Seiyun operation kills Islamic State spokesperson

Yemeni security forces, in coordination with the Saudi-led Coalition, killed Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari, the official spokesperson for the Islamic State, during a tactical operation in Seiyun, Hadhramaut Governorate.

The operation, conducted at dawn on September 1, 2026, involved the Yemeni counter-terrorism unit Force 22 and special forces from the Coalition. Al-Ansari was located in a residential dwelling alongside eight civilians, including five children and two women. Security forces successfully evacuated the civilians to a secure location without harm.

During the engagement, one additional individual was wounded and apprehended after offering resistance. Forensic teams recovered several items from the site, including a neutralized suicide vest, two laptops, five mobile phones, and two tablets. The Yemeni Central State Security Agency emphasized that the mission was the result of strategic intelligence sharing and was executed with strict adherence to civilian protection protocols to mitigate collateral damage in the densely populated area.