The Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the failed attack against an airliner by Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Christmas Day. The would-be plane bomber said he was trained in Yemen, where he had gone to study.
Yemen, the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, has become a safe haven for al-Qaeda offshoots after they came under pressure in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Washington and London have decided to help Yemen in its fights against terrorism. Two days ago, the top US general in the region, David Petraeus, paid a visit to Yemen where he met Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. On that occasion, he announced US assistance to Yemen would double to almost US$ 150 million.
In London, the British government is organising a conference on Yemen for 28 January that will concentrate on Yemen’s US$ 11 billion development needs as well as anti-terrorism assistance.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni government sent more troops to hunt down al-Qaeda militants in the provinces of Abyan, Baida and Shabwa. However, security in the country is full of holes, given the abundance of firearms, a Shia insurgency in the north and secessionist movements in the south.
Reports on Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's membership vary—some experts say there are fewer than 50 fighters, whilst others believe there may be 200 to 300.