Sana’a, Oct 21, (dpa/GNA) – Four soldiers were killed in an attack by al-Qaeda elements, targeting government-affiliated forces in southern Yemen on Tuesday, a government source told dpa.
The attack took place in the al-Mahfad district in the southern Abyan province, largely controlled by the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The STC forces managed to detonate two car bombs, before the al-Qaeda members reached their brigade site, the source said.
Six al-Qaeda suicide bombers were also killed in the ensuing clashes.
In a statement, STC military commander Nasr al-Yafei confirmed the death toll and that the brigade’s forces have eliminated all the attackers.
The STC, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, is allied with the internationally-recognized government against the Houthi rebels, who took control of the country’s northern areas including the capital Sana’a in late 2014.
Yemen has been roiled by the devastating power struggle between the government and the rebels since then.
The southern forces have repeatedly been attacked by al-Qaeda militants in recent years.
GNA