Thursday, 27 October 2011
Two soldiers were wounded during clashes with the militants in Yemen. (File photo)
Yemeni government forces killed six Islamist militant fighters on Wednesday night in two towns, a local official said on Thursday, part of efforts to drive the fighters out of three cities in the country’s south.
Three were killed and six wounded in the coastal town of Shaqra, seized by Islamists in August, during an air strike, the official said, Reuters reported.
“An unmanned aircraft, likely American, struck the village of Shaqra...and killed three al-Qaeda operatives and wounded six others,” said the official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.
He said the militant group has been carrying out military training exercises in the area, adding that near-by residents had reported sounds of gunfire and explosions in recent days.
Three were killed and six wounded in the coastal town of Shaqra, seized by Islamists in August, during an air strike, the official said, Reuters reported.
“An unmanned aircraft, likely American, struck the village of Shaqra...and killed three al-Qaeda operatives and wounded six others,” said the official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.
He said the militant group has been carrying out military training exercises in the area, adding that near-by residents had reported sounds of gunfire and explosions in recent days.
Another three militants were killed and dozens wounded in Zinjibar, which was captured in May, when Yemen army forces shelled one of their bases in the northern part of the city.
Two soldiers were wounded during clashes with the militants, the official said.
Islamist militants have also been in control of Jaar since March, apparently exploiting a security vacuum while President Ali Abdullah Saleh fights to keep his grip on power after nine-months of protests against his rule.
Saleh has refused a Gulf-brokered power transfer plan three times, aggravating protests and bringing the impoverished country to the brink of civil war.
The Yemeni government has repeatedly denied direct U.S. involvement in the fight against al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch, saying it only provides logistical support.
Local residents and officials in the southern and eastern provinces however insist that U.S. drone aircraft regularly carry out attacks on suspected al-Qaeda operatives.
Two soldiers were wounded during clashes with the militants, the official said.
Islamist militants have also been in control of Jaar since March, apparently exploiting a security vacuum while President Ali Abdullah Saleh fights to keep his grip on power after nine-months of protests against his rule.
Saleh has refused a Gulf-brokered power transfer plan three times, aggravating protests and bringing the impoverished country to the brink of civil war.
The Yemeni government has repeatedly denied direct U.S. involvement in the fight against al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch, saying it only provides logistical support.
Local residents and officials in the southern and eastern provinces however insist that U.S. drone aircraft regularly carry out attacks on suspected al-Qaeda operatives.
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