The United States has halted some counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida militants in Yemen following a takeover of the country by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, U.S. officials said Friday.
The collapse of the U.S.-backed government of Yemen on Thursday has left America's counterterrorism campaign "paralyzed," two U.S. security officials said, dealing a major setback to Washington's fight against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a potent wing of the militant network.
Three U.S. officials said the halt in operations included drone strikes, at least temporarily, following the abrupt resignation of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and the Cabinet amid mounting fears the Arab world's poorest country is veering toward civil war.