AQAP Takes Control of Another Town in Southern Yemen

The Yemen Post reported today that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has seized control of yet another population center in southern Yemen. The coastal town of Radum in Shabwa province is the latest to fall to AQAP:

Al-Qaeda announced on Saturday that it has taken control of the coastal town of Radum, in the Yemeni southeastern province of Shabwa.

In a statement released today, and confirmed by a security official, Ansar al-Sharia, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, had taken control today of the Radum town.

The militants moved from Azzan and other areas of Shabwa to Radum, according to the official, who indicated that the militants took control of town gradually.

AQAP controls Azzan in Shabwa province. In the neighboring province of Abyan, the cities of Zinjibar, Al Koud, Ja'ar, and Shaqra are currently run by AQAP. Also, AQAP seized control of Rada'a in Al Baydah in January but later withdrew after negotiating a peace agreement with the local government.