Jaʽar (Arabic: جعار Jaʿār) is a small town and the capital of Khanfir District in southwestern Yemen. One of the largest settlements in Abyan Governorate, it is located to the north of Al Kawd and the regional capital of Zinjibar.[1][2] The town is located about 2 kilometres east of the right bank of the Wadi Bana.

Jaʽār
جعار
Town
Jaʽār is located in Yemen
Jaʽār
Jaʽār
Location in Yemen
Coordinates: 13°13′23″N 45°18′20″E / 13.22306°N 45.30556°E / 13.22306; 45.30556
Country Yemen
GovernorateAbyan Governorate
DistrictKhanfar
Population
 (2004)
 • Total
29,495
Time zoneUTC+3 (Yemen Standard Time)

Khanfar is a southern suburb of the town, noted for its ceramics and munitions production. On March 28, 2011, the Jaʿār munitions factory exploded there, killing an estimated 150 people.

The town was controlled by Ansar al-Sharia, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, from March 2011 to June 2012.[3][4] However, on 12 June 2012, the Yemeni Army retook control of Jaʽar along with Zinjibar.[5] On 2 December 2015, Ansar al-Sharia captured Jaʽar from Hadi government forces. Zinjibar was also captured the same day.

In early May 2016, AQAP fighters withdrew from the city of Zinjibar and Jaar after negotiation with Hadi loyalists.[6] Since then, it has repeatedly withdrawn and returned. On 14 August 2016, the cities were fully captured by pro-government forces who dislodged the militants.[7]

Jaʽar fish market

References

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  1. ^ Google Maps (Map). Google.
  2. ^ Bing Maps (Map). Microsoft and Harris Corporation Earthstar Geographics LLC.
  3. ^ "Land of the Black Flag - by Casey L. Coombs | Foreign Policy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  4. ^ "Army retakes Zinjibar". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  5. ^ "Yemeni Army Retakes Militant Stronghold of Jaar - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  6. ^ "Al-Qaeda pulls out of two southern cities in Yemen". 6 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Yemen army pushes al Qaeda fighters from two cities, about 40 dead". Reuters. 2016-08-14.
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