US Worries About New Syria-Yemen al-Qaeda Threat to Flights

Local Editor

The Obama administration is worried that al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Syria have linked up with an al-Qaeda branch in Yemen to develop new explosives to target commercial aircraft, ABC News reported on Sunday.

US intelligence believes that members of the so-called "al-Nusra Front," al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, have linked up with al-Qaeda in Yemen in order to develop a plot to down a plane headed to the US or Europe.

Officials are worried that "jihadist" fighters in Syria who hold US or European passports would be central to the plot.

A source told ABC that this threat "is different and more disturbing than past aviation plots."

According to the report, senior intelligence officials discussed the threat this week at the White House.

Moreover, the White House is considering asking allies overseas to enhance security at their airports, as well as examining measures to take within the US, in light of the threat.

US officials have been attempting to develop new measures since the beginning of the year. According to a source, changes could include more random screenings or more screening based on certain passenger profiles.

The US has not learned of any specific timeline or target.

Sources: News Agencies, Edited by website team