Drone strike kills three in Yemen

Air Force

The Obama administration has given the CIA greater leeway in mounting attacks.

A U.S. drone reportedly attacked Islamist militants in Yemen overnight and killed three people, spotlighting Washington’s widening aerial campaign against al Qaeda in the Middle East, Reuters reported.

The strike comes as the Obama administration has given the CIA and the military greater leeway to target suspected militants in Yemen with drones.

Policies on U.S. drone use in the Middle East differ between countries. In Yemen, the United States carries out drone strikes with the government's approval, the Wall Street Journal reported.

In Turkey, the U.S. provides intelligence for operations but does not play a direct role in any strikes. A strike in late December directed against Kurdish separatist fighters mistakenly killed civilians, raising questions about the degree to which the United States can entrust allies with drone technology.