Story highlights The strikes are the first ones to target the Yemen-based terror group since a deadly January raid

At least one strike on Thursday targeted a so-called "high value" al Qaeda member

(CNN) The United States conducted a second round of airstrikes against an al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen overnight, the Pentagon said Friday, bringing the number of strikes against the terrorist group to more than 30 in the last 48 hours.

"US forces conducted additional precision strikes in Yemen against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula," Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza, a Department of Defense spokesman, told CNN.

The strikes were intended to "maintain pressure against the terrorists' network and infrastructure in the region," Baldanza added.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Friday: "Make no mistake, while we talk a lot about ISIS, AQAP is the organization that has more American blood on its hands. It is a deadly terrorist organization that has proven itself to be very effective in targeting and killing Americans."

"We are working to stop them from that," Davis said, adding that the strikes were "part of a larger plan" aimed at disrupting the terrorist group.

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