Al-Qaeda Forces Reportedly Have Seized The Wreckage

A Predator UAV which may have been involved in spying over Yemen has gone down, according to police officials there. Reports indicate that Al-Qaeda forces have been able to make off with the wreckage of the downed drone.

Predator B File Photo

The aircraft reportedly went down in the village of Jahayn in the Abyan provice Tuesday. Al-Qaeda is known to have a large presence in the region. A police official identified the wreckage as being that of a Predator, and that enemy forces had managed to seize what was left of the aircraft, according to a report from the French news service AFP.

Additional Predators have been deployed in the region since November, and are able to carry both reconnaissance gear and ordinance. Yemen has come under increasing pressure from Washington to assist in finding Al Qaeda operatives since a plot to bring down aircraft using packages shipped on airliners was uncovered in December. The person thought to be responsible for the plot was allegedly trained in Yemen.

FMI: www.dod.gov