A security official told the government-run 26 September website that the army troops assisted by tribal militias managed to kick out the terrorists from three towns in the southern Yemeni province of Abyan.
He said the army troops and the tribal fighters expelled al-Qaeda militants from Lawdar, Modia, and al-Wadea after two days of fierce clashes.
The unnamed official pointed out that the militants fled to mountainous areas after they lost great number of their fighters and weapons."In the couple of past days, approximately 60 militants have been killed. Also some army troops and tribal men were killed in the clashes," the official said.
He noted that the army troops are currently chasing the terrorists in order to arrest them and force them to stand trial for their crimes, calling on the al-Qaeda militants to turn themselves in willingly to the authorities.
According to the official, all Modia inhabitants showed their support for the tribal militias and the troops.
For his part, Abyan governor hailed the progress in the battle against the terror organization affiliates, saying the troops and the tribal militias showcased fantastic braveness and determination to eradicate the terrorists.
The governor said eradicating the rest of the militants is a national duty and stressed that a great number of the militants were killed.
Meanwhile, the US administration said that the fighting against al-Qaeda gained momentum after the former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh left office in November 2011.