World | Yemen Yemen Army Reclaims al-Qaeda Stronghold Gov't claims fighting fierce, but locals report militants fled last night By Mark Russell Posted Jun 12, 2012 8:12 AM CDT Copied Yemeni soldiers sit atop a tank near the town of Jaar, on May 30, 2012. Last night Yemen forces retook Jaar, as militants fled. (Getty Images) Yemeni forces have retaken the southern town of Jaar, more than a year after it was captured by al-Qaeda-linked militants, reports Reuters. The government victory could be a considerable blow to the Ansar al-Sharia militant group, which captured several southern towns last year. The fighting killed 20 militants and four Yemeni soldiers, according to the Yemeni defense ministry. Local reports, however, told a different story, reporting that most of the militants had fled last night in the dark, leaving the town empty. The rebels also left flyers that stated they did not intend to "cause any harm to Jaar and its inhabitants," and asked for forgiveness. The Yemen military, backed by local fighters, have been making a big push against insurgent forces over the past month. Read These Next Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. Actor Sam Rockwell gets residuals from movie he wasn't in. President Trump celebrates a 'giant' Supreme Court win. University of Virginia leader reportedly resigns over DEI policies. Report an error