ADEN, Sept 25 (NNN-YPA) – Yemen’s pro-government forces, yesterday, continued anti-terror military operations, in the southern province of Abyan, a security official said.
The troops raided the al-Qaeda terrorist group’s strongholds, in various areas of the province in recent days, killing 24 armed al-Qaeda members, the local security source said.
“The troops launched yesterday, the fourth phase of the anti-terror campaign, aimed at pushing their elements out of the whole province,” the source added.
He said, al-Qaeda militants were evicted in four districts, following weeks of deadly fighting, adding, 32 soldiers were killed and 40 others wounded, in operations in the past several days.
The pro-government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, also continued their operations against al-Qaeda militants in other southern areas, according to the official.
On Tuesday, military units of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which are part of Yemen’s government, attacked al-Qaeda hideouts and positions, in various mountainous areas of turbulent Abyan, making headway on the ground.
Last month, the STC troops launched a major anti-terror operation code-named “Arrows of the East” in Abyan, to combat terrorist groups.
The Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network, has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against the security forces in the country’s southern provinces.
The AQAP has exploited years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi militia, to expand its presence in the war-ravaged Arab country.
