The Yemeni army troops are all set to have a decisive battle with al-Qaeda in the southern war-torn province of Abyan, military sources said.

The army troops have taken fighting positions in and around Zinjubar, the provincial capital of Abyan, and in the main road connecting Zinjubar to Aden, local military source told Yemen Post on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information to the press.

The forces have besieged Ja'ar, and Zinjuabar towns, al-Qaeda strongholds, and are poised to have a decisive, uphill battle in the few coming hours with the terrorists, said the source.

Military reinforcements arrived in the couple of days ago to Abyan coming from several provinces in the efforts to defeat al-Qaeda and eradicate its elements, who distributed Monday flies in Zinjuabar threatening army personnel with death and urging them to repent, local witnesses told Yemen Post.

This came two days after militants have surprisingly stormed a military base in Lawder Valley of Abyan, leaving as many as 105 soldiers killed, wounding 40 others, and taking prisoner of 55. Not to mention the heavy weapons they have looted.

Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi vowed on Monday to chase al-Qaeda to the very last hideout they might take shelter in, confirming that the government is unwaveringly resolved to defeat and eradicate the islamists.

Late on Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has strongly condemned the terrorist attack, pledged support for newly-elected President Hadi and Yemeni people in the delicate transitional period, and offered her sincere condolences to those who lost loved ones in the recent attacks by al-Qaeda.

Yemen is a vital partner of the west in the war against terrorism with US providing the poor Gulf state with all the equipment, money and training required to fight the global terror network of al-Qaeda.