Yemen has issued its strongest warning to date against a US military intervention inside its borders. Speculation of a US military campaign inside Yemen has grown since the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the failed Christmas Day attack. On Thursday, Yemen’s deputy prime minister, Rashad al-Alimi, said, “If there is direct [US] intervention by the United States, it will strengthen al-Qaeda. We cannot accept any foreign troops on Yemeni territory.”