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Yemen welcomes logistic support from US

Yemen says it needs intelligence and logistical support from the West in its “battle against terrorism”, however it will not agree with any joint military operation with the Americans in the country.

Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said that US forces were currently in Yemen training the country’s counterterrorism forces and Sana’a would accept more American soldiers if they only acted as trainers.

Qirbi told AP that Yemen welcomes US and foreign troops for training, intelligence and logistical support “But not in any other capacity.”

He said Yemeni forces would remain under Yemeni command hinting that the government will not allow the US to supervise Yemeni troops’ operations in the country.

Yemen claims that several hundred al-Qaeda fighters are operating in the country.

It announced the beginning of its biggest offensive in years against “al-Qaeda hideouts” last month and has beefed up troops around Sana’a and some other provinces.

The US, however, has launched air raids in northern parts of the country, where Shia fighters, who are traditionally considered opponents of Salafi al-Qaeda, are involved in a war with the central government. The attacks have left many civilian casualties.

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