According to local government officials in Yemen's southern region of Abyan the government troops would have killed 7 al-Qaeda militants this Tuesday as assaults between the two parties continue.
Amongst the dead were one Iranian man, a Pakistani and 2 Somali nationals, confirming fears of an intricate terror network within the country.
Military sources confirmed the government statement which announced that its forces had to shell 2 key government buildings in Zinjibar after the Islamist militants managed to seize it.
As Yemen continues to be locked into a political and power stalemate, security in its southern and now northern region has fallen apart, allowing armed groups to vent and implement their take-over plans. The nation is now sandwiched in between the threat of al-Qaeda in the south and al-Houthis territorial ambitions in the north.