article_snippet: For years, the U.S. military has worked closely with Yemen to go after AQAP, together carrying out numerous attacks like the 2011 drone strike that killed prominent al Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki.
article_snippet: Yemen has never been a perfect democracy or a island of stability," U.S. President Barack Obama said in January, promoting the policy of "partnering and intelligence-sharing with Yemen" as the best approach in a bad situation.
article_snippet: But while there have been drone strikes as recently as last month, these cooperative efforts have been hampered by Yemen's growing difficulty in maintaining unity and peace.
article_snippet: These include the rise of the Houthis, These battles with forces loyal to ousted President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and the presence of not only al Qaeda fighters but other militants.
article_snippet: With no one really in control, that means numerous groups -- including those with a history of killing civilians and lashing out at the West -- have been more room to operate and a better chance potentially to take over.
article_snippet: Meanwhile, the main players for control of Yemen's government -- those siding with Hadi, who still claims to be president after being deposed earlier this year, and the Houthis, a minority group that's strongest in the northern part of Yemen -- remain very much at odds.
article_snippet: Just two days ago, a Yemeni jet commanded by the capital's Houthi conquerors fired missiles at a palace housing Hadi in Aden.
article_snippet: The airstrikes came on the same day opposing Yemeni military forces -- some under the Houthis, others led by officers loyal to Hadi -- battled in Aden, said Aden .
article_snippet: The Iranian agenda of the Houthis will not last," a palace housing Hadi in the port city of Aden said.
article_snippet: Needless to say, the Houthis aren't convinced.
highlights_snippet: Yemen's deposed president lashes out at Houthi rebels in a speech .
  
highlights_snippet: The U.S. military had worked with Yemen's government to go after terrorists there .