U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday that al-Qaida’s branch in Yemen is taking advantage of fighting between Houthi rebels and pro-government forces to seize territory in the country that has struggled for stability since its former leader was pushed from office in 2012.

Carter told reporters during a visit to Japan that the crisis in Yemen has made U.S. efforts to counter al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) more difficult, and that such operations are easier when there is a stable government.

“The terrorism threat to the west including, the United States, from the AQAP is a long standing and serious one,” Carter said. “That one we will keep combating.  We obviously will change the way we do that in accordance with the circumstances there. Obviously we hope that order is restored to Yemen, not only for that reason, but because there’s a lot of suffering going on in Yemen as these fluid battles and these different groups go back and forth.”

He also said the U.S. is providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to help the coalition of forces battling the Houthis.

On Tuesday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the government is also speeding up weapons deliveries.

Warplanes from Saudi Arabia and Arab allies have been striking Shi’ite Muslim rebels who have been fighting forces loyal to the country’s internationally backed president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Also Tuesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said a plane carrying medical personnel has landed in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.

The Red Cross continued to warn of a “catastrophic” situation in Yemen’s main southern city Aden, even as a senior Red Cross official, Dominik Stillhart, noted the arrival in a Twitter post and said urgently needed medical supplies will arrive by air and sea when clearances are received.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 540 people have been killed and 1,700 wounded in the fighting in Yemen over the past three weeks.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch urged Houthi leaders to investigate allegations that rebel fighters used excessive force during two demonstrations in southern Yemen.

The group said Tuesday that Houthi fighters and government security forces fired on protesters who were demonstrating against the Houthis.  The separate incidents in Taizz and al-Turbba killed seven people and wounded 83 others, HRW said.

The rights organization also called attention to what it said is the increasing use of excessive force and arbitrary arrests of protesters and journalists.
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