Al-Qaida Plans To Target Dhale Province Amid Blows In Abyan, Ministry

The Interior Ministry revealed on Saturday al-Qaida plans to attack key installations including governmental offices in Dhale province, amid continuous battles by the forces and popular fighters against the militants in southern and southeastern regions.

The ministry said in a statement, quoting the local security authorities, the militants have planned to carry out terrorist operations in Dhale after they have received devastated blows in Abyan province.

The authorities have been placed on high alert to face possible terrorist attacks, with the people also urged to cooperate with them, it said.

The militants will try to destabilize this province in an attempt to draw attention and help ease the siege imposed on the remaining militants in Abyan province, it said.

Hundreds of al-Qaida militants have been killed in a week of raging battles in the Lawder city, Abyan.

Coinciding with official statements on the withdrawal of the remaining militants from the city, reports have said al-Qaida has sought a truce, but the forces and the popular fighters refused the request.

Meantime, the daily life has returned to normal in Lawder after the militants, who were trying to occupy the city, were forced out.

Markets reopened and clam was reported in many parts of the city after the forces and the popular fighters seized the positions of the militants, locals said. However, small battles have been reported in areas far from downtown, the locals added.

After al-Qaida seized some towns in Abyan in mid-2011 amid a popular uprising, the concerns of the West started to grow, with the US offering direct support to the Yemeni forces to fight the militants.

Since June, drone attacks have killed many militants including leaders.