"Al-Qaida fighters in Yemen seized air defence base and ..." Topic

…local airport in the province of Hadramout.

"Scores of well-armed gunmen of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch seized an air defence base and a local airport after clashes with security forces in Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout on Thursday evening, a government official told Xinhua.

"The al-Qaida gunmen launched an offensive against a number of military bases including the 27th Armored Brigade and took over control of the air defense base along with the Rayan local airport in the coastal city of Mukalla, Hadramout's provincial capital," the local government official said on condition of anonymity.

"The al-Qaida gunmen were then heavily deployed inside and around the Rayan local airport," the source said, adding that "all the troops tasked with guarding the government facilities in Mukalla have retreated."…"

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I was not aware that these people have tanks!

Amicalement
Armand

It appears to me that a lot of militaries in the M.E. are a rather undisciplined lot, and seem to give up a lot of their weaponry at the drop of a hat.

I was just thinking that Yemen would be a good basis for an off-world, Traveller setting, with perhaps the guerrillas either playing themselves, or some sort of alien race that is unhappy.

Given the way events are spiraling out of control there, major players in the region are getting involved, etc.. etc., it would at least be worth considering.

My guess is "Yemen" would be declared a Red Zone.

My question is if the rag-tag militias of whatever stripe really have the knowledge to make gainful use of the sleek new systems they capture? Even the regular forces of these countries have to undergo a lot of training, and the systems require their own support systems to function as designed.

My guess is that without educated handlers, these systems fall into disrepair through non-use and lack of maintenance, or they are cannibalized, or they are sold to third parties who want them.

Good question… open reply…

Amicalement
Armand

How they can managed the tanks?
It's THAT easy?

Amicalement
Armand