A suspected U.S. drone strike has killed 7 alleged members of al-Qaida in southern Yemen as the nation remains guarded after an intercepted communication between high ranking al-Qaida officials revealed a potential attack in the new future, according to the Associated Press.
The attack is the second in as many days and the fifth to take place in the last two weeks. The United States responded to the threat of an imminent terrorist attack by shutting down 19 diplomatic offices located in the Middle East and North Africa over the weekend and evacuating staff from the embassy in Yemen, according to the Associated Press.
Over the last couple of months the United States has increased the amount of drone activity in Yemen while also training the Yemeni military counter-terrorism measures. The Yemeni military has made a major push against what U.S. officials consider to be the most dangerous branch of al-Qaida recently and it is believed that the recent action from the terrorist group is in retaliation, the Associated Press reports.
The strike took place in Shabwa province. Officials speaking on the condition of anonymity told the Associated Press that two vehicles were struck by missiles causing them to explode and catch on fire. Residents who also wished to remain anonymous told the news service that they saw several bodies in the wreckage.
Elsewhere in Yemen the Yemeni army has announced that they have foiled an al-Qaida plot to capture two southern ports as well as oil and gas production facilities, according to CNN.
"The Yemeni government ended an al-Qaida plot to attack strategic locations in Mukalla and Shabwa," Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for the Yemeni prime minister, said. "Large numbers of government forces are making sure the Yemeni coasts are safe from any al-Qaida attack. Al-Qaida sought to attack the oil pipelines but failed and tried to attack through the coast of Mukalla but failed as well."
The announcement of the foiled plot comes one day after the United States and the United Kingdom ordered all of their citizens to leave the country as quickly as possible. At least two military transport planes landed in the capital of Sanaa to remove American citizens. The Yemeni government took minor offense to the decision to evacuate the embassies and suggested that doing so was bowing to the will of al-Qaida, according to CNN.
"Yemen has taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and security of foreign missions in the capital of Sanaa," a statement from Yemen's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "While the government of Yemen appreciates foreign governments' concern for the safety of their citizens, the evacuation of embassy staff serves the interests of the extremists and undermines the exceptional cooperation between Yemen and the international alliance against terrorism."
A Yemeni military helicopter was shot down by militants on Tuesday in the Mareb province. The helicopter was checking on the safety of an oil pipeline when it was attacked killing at least eight people, according to CNN.
