Troops Going to Yemen, Report Says
The White House has approved a mission to send hundreds of U.S. troops to Yemen to train and advise Yemeni forces hunting remnants of the Al Qaeda network, a published report said today.
The Wall Street Journal cited a senior military official as saying the mission would be similar to an effort in the Philippines, where more than 600 U.S. soldiers are involved in anti-terror exercises with local forces.
The paper quoted unnamed officials as saying the mission was approved after a monthlong debate within the Bush administration about the size of the Al Qaeda presence in Yemen and how the U.S. should respond.
The U.S. soldiers will also share intelligence but, as in the Philippines, will not be involved in combat, officials said.
The White House and Pentagon had no immediate comment. Army Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command, had said Wednesday that aid to Yemen was being considered.
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