The US is considering its response to a request made by the UAE for military support to assist a new offensive targeting Al-Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

AQAP, considered a direct threat to the US for having planned to attack US airliners, has exploited the war in Yemen to gain control of a significant swathe of the country, according to a report by Reuters.

Citing unnamed US officials, Reuters said the UAE has asked for US help on “medical evacuation and combat search and rescue as part of a broad request for American air power, intelligence and logistics support”.

It was unclear whether the request included US special operations forces.

The US government’s current support to the Saudi-led coalition is limited to intelligence and logistics support.

This new development coincides with the ongoing UN-brokered peace talks among the warring factions that are being held this week in Kuwait. A ceasefire came into effect on 10 April to give way to the discussions aiming to defuse the year-long war.

US special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh has said the parties, comprising Houthi rebels, supporters of former president Ali Abdullah al-Saleh, and the Yemeni government led by Abdrabbu Mansour al-Hadi, are focusing on a five-point initiative, including the ceasefire, withdrawal and surrender of weapons, restoration of legitimacy to government, creating the climate for the return of the representatives of the political forces to complete arrangements, and preparations for the interim phase. All five points are related to the UN Resolution 2216.