The United States has charged two Yemeni nationals with conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens abroad and providing material support to al-Qaida.

The Justice Department announced the charges Tuesday accusing Saddiq al-Abbadi and Ali Alvi of traveling to Pakistan in 2008 to receive al-Qaida training, then going to Afghanistan to take part in attacks against U.S. forces.

Prosecutors say during one such attack in Paktiya province, a U.S. Army Ranger was killed and several others were wounded.

The men were arrested in Saudi Arabia, and then expelled to the U.S., where they are facing the charges in a New York federal court.

The Justice Department said the men also helped an American from New York get admitted into al-Qaida. 

That man, Bryant Neil Vinas, was captured in Pakistan in 2008, and a year later pleaded guilty to conspiracy and providing support to terrorists.  He has cooperated with investigators, providing details about other suspects and a suggested bombing plot against a rail line in New York.
…