These people aren't stupid ... drones flying lower than usual to the extent they were audible, a moonless night ... prime conditions for an attack. They simply went on high alert anticipating an attack ... they were not tipped off in some nefarious way that is being suggested by some of the responses in this forum.
“These people aren’t stupid ... drones flying lower than usual to the extent they were audible, a moonless night ... prime conditions for an attack. They simply went on high alert anticipating an attack ...”
This is not an accurate or reliable conjecture. Drones have multiple, sophisticated sensors which do not require reducing altitude.
If the article is accurate and AQAP was alerted, which I doubt, the warning was likely the result of a leak transmitted by secure comms. Equipment retrieved will reveal if this occurred. Also, AQAP has been known to use women and children as shields and fighters for years. No one would have been be surprised by this.