“Al-Qaeda militants operating from Yemen are an ‘urgent concern’ for Washington, Hillary Clinton has said [on January 11, 2011] on the first visit to Sanaa by a US secretary of state in 20 years. But during the surprise visit, Mrs. Clinton said the US sought to broaden ties with Sanaa beyond a military role. She said US aid would also focus on Yemen’s social and economic challenges. Yemen has seen numerous anti-US attacks since the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Aden which killed 17 US sailors.”
– “Clinton in Yemen: Al-Qaeda Militants ‘Urgent Concern,'” BBC News, Jan. 11, 2011