Missile strike kills at least eight militants in Yemen

ADEN – Missile strikes have killed eight suspected militants in an al-Qaida stronghold in Yemen, days after the U.S. announced it stopped a terrorist plot by the group’s Yemen branch.

Local residents say the missile strikes occurred early Thursday in the southern town of Jaar, which is in a region used as a base by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

On Monday, U.S. officials revealed they thwarted a plot to bomb a U.S.-bound plane with an explosive underwear device similar to one crafted for an intended bombing in 2009.

U.S. media reports say the man sent by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula to carry out the plot was actually a double agent who had infiltrated the terror group.

U.S. and foreign intelligence officials say the operative has given the explosive device to U.S. officials for analysis.