Yemen Busts Huge al-Qaeda Plot

Al-Qaeda wasn't just planning a one-off suicide bombing of the usual variety—it was close to pulling the trigger on a highly coordinated operation in Yemen that involved blowing up pipelines and taking control of key port cities, reports the BBC. The news service also says US special operations forces are preparing to launch "strike operations" in Yemen, which would mark a significant increase from their typical role in providing training. The US yesterday warned citizens to get out of the country.

Meanwhile, the US launched another drone attack in Yemen today, this time killing six suspected militants traveling in two cars, reports Reuters. It's the fifth such attack in less than two weeks. The strikes are directly related to the newly uncovered al-Qaeda plot, though it's unclear whether any high-profile targets have been hit, reports the Washington Post. “It’s too early to tell whether we’ve actually disrupted anything,” a senior US official tells the newspaper.