US must consider drone attacks in Yemen: Carl Levin

The United States should consider using air strikes, such as attacks by unmanned drones, to battle militants in Yemen that threaten American security, a senior US senator said. Addressing a meeting in Washington Senator Carl Levin said that air strikes, clandestine actions, and stepping up US military aid to Yemen are among options that should be considered for dealing with the threat from Al-Qaeda militants in the Gulf Arab state. US officials say that the Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bond airliner on December 25 received Al-Qaeda training in Yemen. President Obama has said the United States does not plan to send US troops into Yemen or Somalia as those countries struggle to contain Islamist militants. However an American newspaper claims that there is no chance of carrying out a ground operation in Yemen.