Dozens of families are fleeing their homes in Habeel Jubari district in Yemen's southern province of Dhale for only security reasons including that a security operation against Al-Qaeda is expected soon.
Local sources told the Yemen Post that rumors spread among the people that troops had planned to raid the area where suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists were located and reports surfaced that Yemen and the U.S. were mulling more terror operations in the south.
The people are afraid they would be targeted as well, after dozens of civilians were reported dead in ground and air strikes against Al-Qaeda hideouts and training sites in Abyan and Shabwa, locals said.
On the other hand, the city has experienced insecurity over recent weeks, with major explosions and exchanges of gunfire heard in various parts of Dhale.
On Wednesday, people said they heard explosions at the governmental compound in Sanah area, but there were no reports of casualties.
Early this week the compound was attacked by unidentified armed people who launched rocket-propelled grenades at it. The city has also seen clashes with police and armed people who attacked checkpoints and military posts at the city's entries and central areas.
Some blamed the instability on the reemergence of the Hatm Movement, an armed anti-government group, which the southern movement says is not part of it.
Mass arrests took place amid the instable situation and after policemen were injured and taken to hospitals.