MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Yemeni Interior Ministry has reportedly urged both local residents and foreigners working with humanitarian aid organizations to be especially vigilant and to cooperate with security agencies.
"Liaison officers working with the Saudi intelligence met leaders from al-Qaeda in the border Al-Waidah crossing point on Saturday, 29 October, to coordinate the kidnapping operations," an unnamed Yemeni official said, as quoted by the local SABA news agency.
Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi fighters, supported by army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
A Saudi-led coalition has conducted numerous airstrikes against the Houthis since March 2015.