Fresh clashes erupted on Tuesday evening in the southern provincial capital of Abyan, Zinjibar opposing militants linked to al-Qaeda and the government forces.

Islamists fighters allegedly belonging to al-Qaeda in Yemen used the lapse in security provoked by the popular uprising against present Saleh to implement their “expension” campaign within Yemen’s southern territories.

According to the U.S the provinces of Abyan, Marib and Shabwa were already home to several well-know al-Qaeda operatives, amongst whom, Anwar al Awlaki.

Local sources in Zinjibar told Yemen Post that a battle started on Tuesday evening in one the town suburbs and continued well into the early hours of the morning, leading to the death of a reported 4 soldiers and 10 militants. Medical staffs also reported that several soldiers and a high ranking officer were injured.

The military is now claiming that it is making “good advances” against the group “Ansar al Shariah” despite rumors that the fighters are advancing towards the neighboring provinces of Marib and Shabwa.

Under pressure from the U.S to quell the rising threat of al-Qaeda in the region, the Yemeni government has had to increase its air raids, targeting alleged strongholds of the group. This new intensive air campaign led to the death of some 30 people when a mosque was targeted in residential neighborhood only a couple of days ago.