At least 13 of al-Qaeda militants have been killed by an American drone that targeted their hideouts in the southern Yemen-torn province of Abyan.

US drone has attacked early on Tuesday some of al-Qaeda hideouts in Lawdar district of Abyan, leaving at least 13 militants killed and dozens others injured, a local security source told YemenPost.

Some high-profile figures in the terrorist organization were among those who were killed, the security source added, requesting anonymity because he is not authorized to speak with the media.

The drone mainly targeted Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) leader, Naser Abdulkarim al-Wahishi, but it still not confirmed whether he was among those killed on Tuesday.

Local media sources said that the initial accounts indicate that 11 militants have been killed in the drone attack, chief among them is Abdu al- Munim al-Qahtami, who is on top of the American wanted list as he is allegedly one of the main perpetrators of the attack on the US military destroyer Cole in 2000 at the Gulf of Aden.

Ahmed Amiran Abu Ali, Al-Khather al-Suda, leading figures in AQAP, were also confirmed killed, according to the local medi.

Yemen is a vital partner of US in its war against terrorism, however, the military, intelligence and training cooperation has been disrupted due to the current unrest the poor Gulf state is experiencing currently.

A couple of months ago US drone managed to kill the American-Yemen cleric, Anwar al-Awlaqi, who is considered the second man in the chain of command of al-Qaeda after al-Thwahri.

Yemen-based al-Qaeda has intensified its attacks on the army as of late, apparently taking advantage of a distracted government.

Massive popular protests calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh combined with al-Qaeda insurgency in the south, Shiite rebellion in the far north and increasing calls for separation of the south has shaken Yemen, leaving thousands killed, pushing the economy of the country to the brink of collapse and triggering a catastrophic humanitarian disaster.