U.S. Said To Have Stepped Up Covert Strikes Targeting Militants In Yemen

"The New York Times" says the United States has intensified air strikes on suspected Islamic militants in Yemen.

The report says the covert attacks by drones and fighter jets were accelerated in recent weeks as the conflict in the country has left the government struggling to remain in power.

It says Yemeni troops who had been battling militants linked to Al-Qaeda in the south have been pulled back to the capital.

The attacks were allegedly stepped up to take advantage of the growing power vacuum and to keep militants from consolidating their power in the south.

There had been nearly a yearlong pause in the U.S. air strikes after concerns that poor intelligence had resulted in civilian deaths undermining the covert campaign.

compiled from agency reports