US Plans Bomb 'Payback' Air Strikes in Yemen

Yemen vows to stamp out al-Qaeda, raids militant hideout
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 31, 2009 3:00 AM CST
US Plans Bomb 'Payback' Air Strikes in Yemen
This image provided by IntelCenter shows men whom IntelCenter identifies as the senior leaders of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.   (AP Photo/IntelCenter)

The US is planning fresh drone strikes on al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen in the wake of the attempted Detroit Christmas bombing. Officials say they are working to identify the militant leaders responsible for the "underwear bomber," and will strike any militant leaders are soon as they are located, the Guardian reports.

"The people we want are the ones who put Abdulmutallab on the plane," said one official. "Until we can get them, there are other high-value targets that will make the point that attacking America does not go unpunished." Yemen's government has vowed to wipe out the country's al-Qaeda offshoot group. Security forces raided an al-Qaeda hideout in western Yemen today and killed at least one militant, AP reports.
(More Detroit terror incident stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X