Just hours after a devastating terror attack in England, the U.S. military announced that it had killed seven al Qaeda militants in Yemen as part of an intelligence gathering operation aimed at disrupting the Islamic terror network.
The operation was carried out in the early morning hours Tuesday in Yemen and was announced just hours after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a concert by American singer Arianna Grande. The attack killed at least 22 people, including children, and injured 59, according to U.K. police.
President Donald Trump, speaking from Israel early Tuesday, described the terrorists as "evil losers."
U.S. counter-terrorism forces, operating with the support of Yemen's government, raided a compound affiliated with al Qaeda's Yemini branch, known as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, which has been tied to the Boston Marathon bombings and Ford Hood terror attack.
Senior U.S. military officials apprised of the situation told the Washington Free Beacon that the raided compound was assessed to be a "safe haven" for senior al Qaeda officials, including those tied to its financial and security divisions.
"The compound was assessed to be an AQAP safe haven linked to senior AQAP financial, media, and security leaders," the military source said.
Top leaders from the terror group were believed to be plotting attacks on America and other hot spots from the location, the source disclosed.
"AQAP leaders seek safe haven in places like this to continue their plans to attack America, its allies and partner nations, and our interests," said the official. "AQAP continues to call for terrorist attacks via terrorist propaganda they produce from their safe havens."
"Raids such as this provide insight into AQAP's disposition, capabilities and intentions, which will allow us to continue to pursue, disrupt, and degrade AQAP," U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, which operates U.S. military operations in the region, said in a statement late Monday.
"During this operation, U.S. forces killed seven AQAP militants through a combination of small arms fire and precision airstrikes," according to U.S. military officials.
The Trump administration and U.S. military will continue to launch similar raids and strikes against AQAP and other radical Islamic terror groups, according to CENTCOM.
"In conjunction with our Arab allies, the U.S. will continue to support their efforts in bringing stability to the region by fighting known terrorist organizations like AQAP," the military command said.
Al Qaeda militants in Yemen have exploited lawless regions as they "plot, direct, and inspire terror attacks against America, its citizens, and allies around the world," according to U.S. military officials.
AQAP was responsible for the 2008 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa and also orchestrated the unsuccessful 2009 attack aimed at bringing down a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas day.
The terror group has also "conspired to send explosive-laden parcels to Chicago in 2010," according to CENTCOM. "The group has also used its English-language magazine Inspire to encourage attacks against the West, and has been linked to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, 2009 Ft. Hood shooting, and other lone-wolf attacks in the U.S. and Europe."
U.S. military officials continue to assess that AQAP "is a formidable terror group that remains committed and capable of attacking Americans and the U.S. homeland."
President Donald Trump has been receiving updates about the latest terror attack in England as he continues his foreign jaunt through the Middle East, according to U.S. officials.
During remarks alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas early Tuesday morning, Trump described the Manchester attackers as "evil losers" and vowed to combat terrorism.
"I won't call terrorists monsters, they would like that name. I will call them losers, because that's what they are," Trump said. "The terrorists must be driven out of our society forever and innocent lives must be protected."
The Department of Homeland Security issued a caution to Americans following the attack on England's Manchester stadium.
"U.S. citizens in the area should heed direction from local authorities and maintain security awareness," DHS said in a statement late Monday. "We encourage any affected U.S. citizens who need assistance to contact the U.S. Embassy in London and follow Department of State guidance."
While U.S. authorities do not have immediate information about terror plots potentially targeting America, the Trump administration is advising caution and increased security in public areas.
"At this time, we have no information to indicate a specific credible threat involving music venues in the United States," according to DHS. "However, the public may experience increased security in and around public places and events as officials take additional precautions."
U.S. officials are working with their British counterparts to investigate the attack.
Update 1:55 p.m.: This post has been updated to reflect comment from senior U.S. military officials.