Battle of Dofas: Difference between revisions

2012 Dofas attack
Part of the Battle of Zinjibar, the al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen and the Yemeni Crisis (2011-present)
Date 4–5 March 2012 Location Dofas and al-Kawd, Abyan Governorate, Yemen Result Ansar al-Sharia victory Destruction of an Army artillery battalion Capture by militants of large quantities of weapons, including heavy ones, among them tanks
Belligerents
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Ansar al-Sharia	Yemen Supported by: United States
Commanders and leaders
Nasir al-Wuhayshii Qasim al-Raymii Abu Hamza al-Zinjibarii	Mohammed Nasser Ahmed Gen. Mohammed Ghaleb al Jarabani Gen. Abdu Rabbu Hasan Salem Gen. Faisal Rajjab
Units involved
Military of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula	Yemeni Armed Forces Yemeni Land Forces 39th Armored Brigade 115th Infantry Brigade 119th Infantry Brigade
Casualties and losses
32 killed (initial battle) 42 killed (subsequent air-strikes)	187 killed, 135 wounded, 55–73 captured

The Battle of Dofas was a battle during the 2011 Yemeni uprising between forces loyal to Yemeni leader Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and Islamist militant forces, possibly including elements of al-Qaeda, during which the militants destroyed an Army artillery battalion of the 39th Armored Brigade in the town of Dofas, which was being used as a main base for artillery support against the militant-held towns of Zinjibar and Jaʿār.

Background

Main article: Battle of Zinjibar

In May 2011, about 300 Islamic militants attacked and captured the coastal city of Zinjibar (population 20,000). During the takeover of the town, the militants killed five policemen, including a high-ranking officer, and one civilian. Two more soldiers were killed in clashes with militants in Loder.

Over the next few months the military made several attempts to retake the city, but they were all repelled leaving more than 600 dead on both sides. By mid-September 2011, the military halted their attacks on Zinjibar and held positions on its outskirts.

Battle

Officials believed that the attackers may have benefited from a sandstorm that blew across the region during the day and through the attack. AAS forces snuck behind the front lines and attacked from the rear where there was "zero surveillance" according to an official. The attack began at 04:00 local time as the soldiers were asleep in their tents. Two suicide bombers attacked the eastern gate of the 39th Armored Brigade's cannon and artillery base at the al-Alam checkpoint in Dofas. The militants simultaneously opened fire on sleeping soldiers. Utilizing mortar and rocket attacks, the 39th Brigade was eventually too overwhelmed by the militants, retreating from their base and allowing the attackers to enter through the gate. AAS forces seized armored vehicles, artillery pieces, assault rifles and rockets abandoned by the 39th Brigade.

As army fire was drawn towards the east, a second assault was launched on the northern side of the base, targeting forces of the 115th and 119th Brigades stationed at al-Kawd. AAS militants utilized weapons, vehicles and artillery left by the 39th Brigade to attack the soldiers. Leaders from the two brigades signalled for reinforcements from Aden, which eventually arrived at 10:00. An official said the “reinforcement response was too slow” to counter the second attack partly due to sandstorms in the area. The battle to regain the Dofas checkpoint lasted for five hours, with United States military advisors directly supervising operation. The Dofas base was eventually recaptured by security forces at 15:00.

The military indicated that airstrikes had destroyed the equipment seized by AAS. However, the group later stated that it had remained in possession of military weaponry including one tank, anti-aircraft cannons, Katyusha-propelled vehicles, two ambulance cars, three military pick-up vehicles, one canon, various other arms and a store of ammunition. During the battle, Defense Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed reportedly ordered the Yemeni Air Force to send helicopters to evacuate the wounded, but the order was refused by air force commander Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, an ally and half brother of Saleh.

Aftermath

Attacks continued during the next weeks, including a suicide bombing on 13 March, near al-Bayda that killed four soldiers and left four other critically injured. After this attack militants posted a video in which they announced the capture of yet another soldier, bringing the total number of prisoners they hold to 74. They demanded an agreement to free imprisoned insurgents in exchange for the soldiers.

On 31 March, a large group of militants attacked an Army checkpoint in Lahij Governorate during the night, sparking a battle that left 20 soldiers and 4 insurgents dead. The attackers fled with heavy weapons and at least two tanks. Government forces later called in airstrikes that successfully destroyed one of the captured tanks, killing its three occupants. Another similar attack took place on 9 April, when a base near Lowdar was briefly overrun during a battle where locals had to join the military to help drive the militants out. There were at least 44 people killed, including six civilians, twenty-four insurgents and fourteen soldiers.