A Yemeni official with knowledge of the raid tells Fox it is not part of a “hunt and capture” campaign targeting the American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.  Rather it was an effort to cut off supply lines for extremists in the southern part of Yemen, including members of the Al Qaeda affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, also known as AQAP.

The Yemeni source also tells Fox that about a dozen members of AQAP were in the village of Hatwa, about the size of 10 city blocks, in Shabwa province. The source said there is no confirmation that Awlaki was among the group,  adding the mission to take out the AQAP cluster was not triggered by intelligence that Awlaki was there.

However, any sizeable push by the Yemeni security forces is significant because the American cleric is believed to be hiding in Shabwa where strong family and tribal ties are protecting him.

Awlaki is a high priority target for both the U.S. and Yemeni governments.  Awlaki is the first American on the CIA’s kill or capture list.  He is also connected to the 9/11 hijackers, the shooting at Fort Hood as well as the failed Christmas day bombing.

Earlier this week, John Brennan — the presidents homeland security and counter terrorism adviser – personally delivered a letter from President Obama to the Yemeni president.  Today, White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Brennan’s visit on Monday was not connected to the raid.

“I’ve seen the reports of the actions in Yemen and I’m told they are not tied to anything that John did or said. or his presence there.”

As for al Qaeda in Yemen, which has gone global in its operations, the U.S. embassy in Yemen would only say that Brennan and the Yemeni president discussed quote cooperation against the continuing threat.