One of the largest military offensives against al-Qaeda in Yemen, involving US air strikes and Yemeni ground troops, began about three weeks ago. At the same time, there’s been an uptick in the number of attacks, kidnappings and assassinations in Yemen’s capital. But the number of Western journalists there to cover it has dwindled to zero in recent days.One of the largest military offensives against al-Qaeda in Yemen, involving US air strikes and Yemeni ground troops, began about three weeks ago. At the same time, there’s been an uptick in the number of attacks, kidnappings and assassinations in Yemen’s capital. But the number of Western journalists there to cover it has dwindled to zero in recent days.