Yemeni government troops have launched a large-scale offensive against al-Qaeda. A spokesperson said thousands of troops are taking part in a campaign in three provinces.

Five suspected militants have been captured in raids in the southwest of the country. The offensive comes amid growing fears of al-Qaeda attacks, which have prompted several Western embassies to close. The United States embassy in Sanaa reopened on Tuesday, but several other missions remain closed. The Dutch embassy closed to the public on Monday. The foreign ministry described the measure as a precaution, saying there was no concrete terrorist threat against the Dutch mission.

Jemen's capital Sanaa (Photo: Flickr / eesti)