ADEN, May 7 (NNN-YPA) – Suspected al-Qaeda gunmen, attacked a security headquarters in Yemen’s southern province of Dhalea last night, a government official said.
“Intense armed confrontations are still going on between the security forces and the al-Qaeda suspects, in and around the security headquarters in Dhalea, amid large explosions,” the local official said.
The gunmen’s attack on the security headquarters, that includes a prison, is aimed to free al-Qaeda inmates, he added.
A few security personnel, including two senior officials were killed in the attack, the official said.
Local eyewitnesses said, the gunmen detonated bombs during their battles with the security forces, causing large explosions.
Ambulances and a security unit, backed by armoured vehicles rushed to the scene, they added.
The Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network, has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against security forces in the country’s southern provinces.
The AQAP has exploited years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, to expand its presence in the war-ravaged Arab country.
