US Joins Yemen in Raids on Al-Qaeda

The US participated in raids this week on al-Qaeda targets in Yemen, with warships launching cruise missiles yesterday in attack the Yemeni government says killed 34 militants. One official tells NBC that President Obama personally ordered the missile salvo; the New York Times reports that the US also contributed intelligence and other support.

“An imminent attack against a US asset was being planned” at an al-Qaeda base near Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, a source tells ABC. US officials have been reluctant to comment further, the Times adds, because the cooperation of Middle Eastern governments with American forces is generally unpopular with the citizenry.