The aim of the coalition offensive was to disable the newly resurgent al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen by recapturing its capital, Mukalla.

[5][15] The first incident was reported on May 11, 2015, when a U.S drone strike killed four AQAP militants traveling in a car around the Mukalla, including the commander Mamoun Abdulhamid Hatem.

[23] On July 10, U.S drone strikes killed 10 AQAP fighters inside a vehicle also carrying a container loaded with weapons, including three senior leaders among the dead.

[27] At 06:30 hours on 6 October, three UAE command centers in Aden were hit by powerful car bombs, 5 Emirati soldiers died as a result of the attack.

[28] on April 23, 2016, UAE Intelligence received intel from a local agent that hardcore AQAP fighters will gather to coordinate street-by-street defense of Al Mukalla.

The building in question was a large warehouse owned by the Yemeni Economic Corporation, located about 500 meters west of Chinese bridge.

This occurred after negotiations with local tribesmen and clerics, allegedly to avoid injury to civilians and destruction of the city from attacks against AQAP fighters.

[13] On the same day, coalition officials stated that more than 800 AQAP fighters had been killed in the fighting, but that number was disputed by Yemeni journalists who covered the event, who said that the group retreated after negotiations.