According to a number of reports, a drone strike in eastern
Yemen has killed two alleged al-Qa'ida militants. A security
official told AFP news agency that the unmanned aircraft hit a
car in the province of Hadramout. He noted that the strike caused a number of
subsequent blasts as the vehicle was reportedly carrying explosives.
A week ago, the Yemeni army launched an offensive to wrest
control of cities in south Yemen from fighters belonging to the al-Qa'ida in the
Arabian Peninsula. Both Washington and Sana'a deny there are drones deployed in
Yemen, but there are wide reports of their use.
Additionally, some Yemeni officials and Western diplomats claim
that US military specialists are closely involved in the Yemeni government's
campaign against Qa'ida militants.
Over the past year, Yemen has been plagued by political
upheaval and protests, which ousted long-term Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah
Saleh. A newly-elected government is under pressure from the US to curb
militant activity across the country.
Al-Qa'ida militants have taken advantage of the upheaval and
breakdown of central government control to gain ground across Yemen, which is
now considered to be the stronghold of al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula.
For more news and expert analysis about Yemen, please see Yemen Focus.
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