US weighs options against growing militant threat in Yemen: "US officials on Monday weighed expanding operations in Yemen to hunt down Al-Qaeda extremists, who are blamed for a foiled bomb plot that experts said showed a high degree of sophistication.
The plot, disrupted last week after a crucial tip from Saudi Arabia, put the spotlight on US efforts to help Sanaa battle Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen, amid speculation Washington might opt to step up missile strikes and covert operations.
The Central Intelligence Agency and other spy services managed to prevent the attempted attack after acting on the Saudis' information, but officials remained anxious about Al-Qaeda finding fertile ground in Yemen's impoverished, tribal landscape."
