Iona Craig

American photojournalist Luke Somers has two days to live, if al-Qaeda in Yemen makes good on its threat to kill him. One of Somers’ friends believes that’s partially thanks to a failed rescue mission last month by US Navy SEALs that may have provoked his captors instead.

A protest in Sana’a led by a northern Yemeni tribe, the Houthis, became a military assault on the capital over the weekend. Now a UN-brokered peace deal will allow the Houthis into power and end the fighting, but the situation remains complex with sectarian and tribal disputes still simmering.

The Houthi insurgency may be low on the radar of American worries in Yemen, the but the Shiite group is now in the streets of the capital and fighting government forces. And that battle could hand an opportunity to the group Western nations are focused on: al-Qaeda.

One of the largest military offensives against al-Qaeda in Yemen, involving US air strikes and Yemeni ground troops, began about three weeks ago. At the same time, there’s been an uptick in the number of attacks, kidnappings and assassinations in Yemen’s capital. But the number of Western journalists there to cover it has dwindled to zero in recent days.One of the largest military offensives against al-Qaeda in Yemen, involving US air strikes and Yemeni ground troops, began about three weeks ago. At the same time, there’s been an uptick in the number of attacks, kidnappings and assassinations in Yemen’s capital. But the number of Western journalists there to cover it has dwindled to zero in recent days.