U.S. has no intention of sending troops to Yemen, Somalia

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said he has no intention of sending troops to Yemen and Somalia, adding that his administration will be continuing cooperation with international partners to ensure U.S. safety.

In an interview with the People Magazine released on Sunday, Obama noted that although al-Qaida has been trying to turn Yemen and Somalia into its new haven, the group's epicenter remains in the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"I have no intention of sending U.S. boots on the ground in these regions. I have every intention of working with our international partners in lawless areas around the globe to make sure that we're keeping the American people safe," said Obama.

"I never rule out any possibility in a world that is this complex, ... In countries like Yemen, in countries like Somalia, I think working with international partners is more effective at this point," the president stressed.

Yemen and Somalia, which are viewed as weak countries without powerful central government control, have become vital battlefields in the U.S.-led war against al-Qaida and its extremist allies.

Early on Sunday, David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command told CNN that the army has no plan to put ground troops in Yemen but that the United States is considering doubling security assistance to 150 million U.S. dollars for Yemen.

Under U.S. security assistance, the Yemeni government has taken more offensive operations against al-Qaida targets in the past months.