Incident Summary:

03/20/2015: Assailants attacked intelligence offices in Lahij area, Lahij governorate, Yemen. This was one of two attacks in the same area on this date in an attempt to take over the city. At least 20 soldiers were killed, 40 were wounded, and 20 were kidnapped across both attacks. The hostages were executed soon afterward. The Lahij Province of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources also attributed the attacks to Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

GTD ID:
201503200035

When:
2015-03-20

Country:
Yemen

Region:
Middle East & North Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Lahij

City:
Lahij

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Political Security Organization (PSO)
Specific Description Offices
Nationality of Target Yemen
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity Central Security Forces (CSF)
Specific Description Soldiers
Nationality of Target Yemen
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Yemeni Police
Specific Description Officers
Nationality of Target Yemen
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 10
US Hostages 0
Outcome Hostage(s) killed (not during rescue attempt)
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualty numbers for this incident conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the majority reliable estimates are reported here. Casualty numbers for this attack represent a division of a cumulative total of killed across incidents 201503200035 and 201503210034.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) No
Lahij Province of the Islamic State Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Posted to website, blog, etc.)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 10 Fatalities / 20 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 10
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 20
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"IS claims killing 29 Yemeni police," Agence France Presse -- English, March 23, 2015.
"Al Qaeda driven out of Yemen city after killing 20 soldiers," The Express Tribune, March 21, 2015.
"Extremists execute over 25 Yemeni servicemen," Philippines News Agency, March 21, 2015.