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

(Newser) – 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.

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This image provided by IntelCenter shows men whom IntelCenter identifies as the senior leaders of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. (AP Photo/IntelCenter)

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First we have to find out who put Abdulmutallab on the plane with the bomb. He's providing some leads and we're not dealing with an unknown quantity here. - A US official working
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US Plans Bomb 'Payback' Air Strikes in Yemen