U.S. officials revealed that the U.S. military and U.S. intelligence services have intensified the gathering of information by using reconnaissance aircrafts, satellites and signals intercept to track Al-Qaeda targets inside and outside their bases in Yemen.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that some of the intelligence information is being shared with the Yemeni security forces to facilitate their operations against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), as they may also strengthen the U.S. operations against the group and its leaders, reported Reuters news agency.
“There is a tremendous amount of focus on that country” a U.S. intelligence official said.
An air strike in Yemen on Tuesday has raised speculation that the U.S. military or the CIA began to use unmanned aerial drones to carry out attacks in Yemen.
A local official said that the air strike targeted al Qaeda, but missed its intended target, killing a mediator rather than a militant leader.
When asked about the attack, American officials said that Washington continues to play a supportive role by helping the Yemeni forces to track and identify targets, pointing out that Tuesday's attack was not carried out by a U.S. controlled drone.
However, a U.S. military official said “We continue to support Yemenis in their opposition to this threat within their borders.”
But another official acknowledged that there was “an increasingly fine line” between playing a supportive role and taking the lead.
Washington is seeking to minimize any direct U.S. role in the attacks in Yemen, fearing that it could further fan anti-American reaction, and increase the popularity of al Qaeda.
However, the U.S. Ministry of Defense (Pentagon) has made no secret about the expanded U.S. aid to the Yemeni security forces.