As battles continues to rage in the southern regional capital of Abyan, Zinjibar, government officials reported the deaths of 10 al-Qaeda militants following fierce fighting on Tuesday.
Despite having sent more recruits and more weapons to Abyan in its renewed efforts to quell the growing al-Qaeda threat in its southern region, the regime has failed so far to regain control over its lost territories. Zinjibar and Jaar, Abyan's most populous cities have been under the thumb of the Islamists for nearly 6 months now.
Meanwhile, "Ansar al Shariah", an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Yemen is said to be running an expansion campaign as it is trying to form a state within the state.
Officials also revealed that the government had order its air force to resume its combing of the terrorists' positions in Jaar as well as Zinjibar in the hope to draw the militants out of their strongholds.