Second batch of U.S. Marines arrives in southern Yemen

The second detachment of 30 U. S. Marines has arrived Thursday on the ground in Yemen's southern province of Lahj to back security forces and deal with counter- terrorism issues in the country's south, a senior government official told Xinhua.

Around 30 special Marines forces arrived at al-Anad military air base, situated in the south of the country, to conduct a joint training operation with counter-terrorism forces of Yemen, the local government official said on condition of anonymity.

"The Marine unit arrived in addition to an earlier contingent dispatched to assist security and protect the U.S. embassy in the capital Sanaa along with its staff there," the government official said.

"The arrival of these aircrafts comes within the outline of the U.S. reinforcements in the fight against the Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot," he added.

The U.S. Marines will conduct small-unit training and full company size training with Yemen's anti-terrorism troops, according to the official.

Source and full story: Xinhua, 21 Sept 2012