"Abyan" redirects here. For the village in Iran, see Abyan, Iran.
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On 31 March 2011, Al Bawaba reported that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) had declared Abyan an "Islamic Emirate" after seizing control of the region.[3]The New York Times reported that those in control, while Islamic militants, are not in fact Al-Qaeda.[4] This takeover was confirmed on May 28.[5] Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region, resulting in the Battle of Zinjibar.
In addition to Zinjibar, the towns of Jaʿār and Shuqrah were firmly under the control of the Islamists.[6] In early May 2012 the Yemeni Army began a major offensive to wrestle control of the province from militants. Government forces captured Zinjibar and Jaar on 12 June after a month of heavy fighting. Militants reportedly retreated towards the town of Shuqrah.[7]