<p>The Pentagon acknowledged for the first time it has deployed US troops to Yemen since the country's collapse last year to bolster government and Arab coalition forces battling Al-Qaeda.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the US military has also stepped up air strikes against fighters with Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).<br /><br />A "very small number" of American military personnel has been working from a "fixed location" with Yemeni and Arab coalition forces -- especially the Emiratis -- in recent weeks around Mukalla, a port city seized by AQAP a year ago, Davis said.<br /><br />"This is of great interest to us. It does not serve our interests to have a terrorist organization in charge of a port city, and so we are assisting in that," the spokesman added.<br /><br />He said the troops were helping the Emiratis with "intelligence support," but declined to say if they are special operations forces.<br /><br />AQAP fighters have now fled Mukalla and other coastal areas, due to the government offensive.<br /><br />While the number of US personnel on the ground is limited, the United States is also offering an array of assistance to partners in Yemen, including air-to-air refueling capabilities, surveillance, planning, maritime security and medical help.<br /><br />The Pentagon previously had more than 100 special operations forces advising the army in Yemen, but pulled them out early last year as the country collapsed.<br /><br />The US Navy also has several ships nearby, including an amphibious assault ship called the USS Boxer and two destroyers.<br /><br />AQAP took advantage of the chaos of fighting between pro-government forces and Iran-backed Huthi rebels to expand its control in southern Yemen, including the seizure of Mukalla.<br /><br />The Huthis denounced the return of the US military "with their weapons in southern Yemen and Al-Anad airbase," the largest in the country.<br /><br />American personnel had been deployed at the base gathering intelligence for drone strikes on Al-Qaeda until they pulled out in March last year, shortly before the Huthis overran the area.<br /><br />In a statement posted online, the Huthis threatened to "fight with all our means" the US and UAE presence in southern Yemen.<br /><br />Pro-government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition recaptured Al-Anad and other southern areas from the Huthis last year, but the rebels still control large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa.<br /><br />The Pentagon announced it has carried out a string of strikes on Al-Qaeda in recent weeks, outside of Mukalla. <br /><br /></p>
<p>The Pentagon acknowledged for the first time it has deployed US troops to Yemen since the country's collapse last year to bolster government and Arab coalition forces battling Al-Qaeda.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the US military has also stepped up air strikes against fighters with Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).<br /><br />A "very small number" of American military personnel has been working from a "fixed location" with Yemeni and Arab coalition forces -- especially the Emiratis -- in recent weeks around Mukalla, a port city seized by AQAP a year ago, Davis said.<br /><br />"This is of great interest to us. It does not serve our interests to have a terrorist organization in charge of a port city, and so we are assisting in that," the spokesman added.<br /><br />He said the troops were helping the Emiratis with "intelligence support," but declined to say if they are special operations forces.<br /><br />AQAP fighters have now fled Mukalla and other coastal areas, due to the government offensive.<br /><br />While the number of US personnel on the ground is limited, the United States is also offering an array of assistance to partners in Yemen, including air-to-air refueling capabilities, surveillance, planning, maritime security and medical help.<br /><br />The Pentagon previously had more than 100 special operations forces advising the army in Yemen, but pulled them out early last year as the country collapsed.<br /><br />The US Navy also has several ships nearby, including an amphibious assault ship called the USS Boxer and two destroyers.<br /><br />AQAP took advantage of the chaos of fighting between pro-government forces and Iran-backed Huthi rebels to expand its control in southern Yemen, including the seizure of Mukalla.<br /><br />The Huthis denounced the return of the US military "with their weapons in southern Yemen and Al-Anad airbase," the largest in the country.<br /><br />American personnel had been deployed at the base gathering intelligence for drone strikes on Al-Qaeda until they pulled out in March last year, shortly before the Huthis overran the area.<br /><br />In a statement posted online, the Huthis threatened to "fight with all our means" the US and UAE presence in southern Yemen.<br /><br />Pro-government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition recaptured Al-Anad and other southern areas from the Huthis last year, but the rebels still control large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa.<br /><br />The Pentagon announced it has carried out a string of strikes on Al-Qaeda in recent weeks, outside of Mukalla. <br /><br /></p>