A military commander was injured and one of his guards was killed and three others seriously injured in a suspected Al-Qaeda ambush, the second on Friday targeting military convoys in south Yemen, an official source said.

Commander of Ground Troops Brigade 111 Muhsen Juzailan was hurt on Friday night when his car passed in the Lowder district, Abyan, where a deadly ambush killed 12 soldiers and injured others early today, the official said.

A woman and a child got minor injuries in the attack as well.

According to the official, an explosive device was planted on the road where the commander passed along with other local officials.

The forces heavily shelled the area after the ambush, local sources said.

Early today, 12 troops of the Brigade were killed and others injured when suspected Al-Qaeda fighters attacked military water tankers and patrols escorting them while on their way to bring supplies in the district.

Eyewitnesses said after this morning ambush about 15 armed people, believed to be Al-Qaeda members, were seen running away.

The two ambushes took place in one of the southern areas, where the army has been launching large-scale operations and a massive hunt for AQAP, an Al-Qaeda group responsible for almost all deadly attacks across the country and terrorist plots outside the country.

In recent years, military and security convoys, commanders and officers, patrols and military camps and security buildings have been a direct target for attacks by AQAP militants in southern and southeastern regions.

Many have been killed and wounded in attacks, as the government says it is determined to root all terrorists out.