U.S. Suspends Some Counterterrorism Efforts Against Al Qaeda In Yemen: Officials

How ironic. And what a mess:

The United States has halted somecounter-terrorism operations against al Qaeda militants in Yemenfollowing a takeover of the country by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, U.S.officials said on Friday.

The collapse of the U.S.-backed government of Yemen on Thursday has left America's counter-terrorism campaign "paralyzed," two U.S. securityofficials said, dealing a major setback to Washington's fight against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a potent wing of the militantnetwork.

Three U.S. officials said the halt in operations included drone strikes,at least temporarily, following the abrupt resignation of thepresident, prime minister and cabinet amid mounting fears the Arab world's poorest country was veering toward civil war.