According to military sources in Abyan, a southern Yemeni province which has been under the yoke of al-Qaeda for nearly 7 months, has announced that 19 Islamist militants had been killed and several dozens injured in the latest government assault.

The army was attempting to free Zinjibar the regional capital from "Ansar al-Sharia", an offshoot of al-Qaeda, by shelling their strongholds within the city. Residents also reported intense artillery campaigns, forcing civilians to barricade themselves at home.
"Artillery shells and Katyusha rockets hit the terrorists group's positions in Bajdar neighborhood, killing at least 10 militants, including an Algerian, an Egyptian, and two Somalis," an officer said under cover of anonymity.
Across the province additional scuffles erupted between pro-government tribesmen and al-Qaeda militants in Modiyah district, where a few days ago a Sheikh loyal to the regime was killed.

"In the retaliatory attack, the tribal fighters stormed a house of a local al-Qaida leader in Modiyah, killing nine terrorists and injuring three others," said a tribesman, adding that "the local al-Qaida leader was captured by the tribesmen after the armed confrontations."

With still no political solution in sight for Yemen, al-Qaeda continues to use the power-vacuum extending its hand over southern Yemen.