Yemeni Parliament's Drone Vote Unlikely To Change US Policy

Lawmakers had voted to ban drone strikes

Sanaa — Yemen's parliament has voted for a ban on drone strikes, but experts say lawmakers have limited powers and their vote is unlikely to impact Washington's bid to crush Al-Qaeda militants.

The United States operates all unmanned aircraft flying over Yemen in support of Sanaa's attempts to break Al-Qaeda, and intensified strikes this year have killed dozens of militants.

Yemen is home to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which Washington views as the deadliest franchise of the global jihadist network.

Critics say drone strikes kill civilians and have demanded an end to the secrecy surrounding them.