The intercepted communications of exchanges between Mr. Zawahiri and the leader of the Yemen branch, Nasser al-Wuhayshi, showed Mr. Wuhayshi presenting his plan of attack in order to seek tacit approval, and he received it, several current and former U.S. officials say

Mr. Wuhayshi was Osama bin Laden's personal secretary and has long known Mr. Zawahiri. He escaped a Yemeni prison in 2006 and saw an opportunity after a major Saudi crackdown on al Qaeda. He reconstituted the group in Yemen in January 2009, drawing on al Qaeda's defunct Saudi branch.

The United States shut diplomatic missions across the Middle East and Africa late last week because of the threat of potential attacks. This week, the U.S. State Department ordered its non-essential staff to leave Yemen, relocating them to the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt, Germany.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday during a speech to U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton, California that the nation is taking the threats seriously, but will not back down. "As for these extremists, here's what those who would cowardly attack our civilians don't get. The United States is never going to retreat from the world. We don't get terrorized," the president affirmed.

Since July 27, drone attacks in Yemens southern and central provinces have killed a total of 34 militants suspected of being members of the countrys al-Qaida branch, security officials have said.

The terror network bolstered its operations in Yemen more than a decade ago after key Saudi operatives fled here following a major crackdown in their homeland. The drone strikes and a U.S.-backed offensive that began in June 2012 have driven militants from territory they had seized a year earlier, during Yemens political turmoil amid the Arab Spring.

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning thename of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42)

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Daniel 11:40)

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:13)

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17)

At least five Islamic militants were killed last night in an Israeli drone strike in the Egyptian Sinai, near the Israeli-Egyptian border.

The unprecedented attack marks the first time Israeli forces have operated against a target inside Egypt since the two countries signed a peace treaty in 1979. Egyptian security sources confirmed the attack was co-ordinated in advance with Cairo.

Last nights attack coincides with an ongoing campaign by the Egyptian army against Islamic gunmen in the Sinai. At least 60 militants have reportedly been killed in the last month. Egypt has beefed up its forces in the area, including the deployment of assault helicopters.

Citing widening terrorist operations in recent times, the Egyptian army said it was conducting an intensified campaign in Sinai in co-ordination with the interior ministry to crack down on militants who threaten Egyptian national security

The Egyptian Armys ongoing operations against the subterranean tunnels connecting Egypt to the Gaza Strip, which have long served as key arteries for bulk cash smuggling, are wreaking havoc with Hamas finances. Until last year, the faction relied heavily on Iran and Syria for a great deal of its cash, but the civil war in Syria prompted Hamas to loosen its ties to the Axis of Resistance. Funding from Tehran has since dropped off precipitously since then, forcing the faction to turn to the Muslim Brotherhood block to make ends meet.

Hamas has also augmented its income over the past decade by taxing goods that come through the tunnels connecting the Gaza Strip to Egypt

Egypts junta is engaged in a relentless effort to shut down the tunnels. Mounting concern that Hamas members might be sneaking into Egypt with dangerous weapons led to a crackdown on the tunnels.