At least eight militants were killed in an airstrike in Yemen’s Hadramout province amid a continuous, massive hunt for Al-Qaeda operatives across the republic, the defense ministry reported on Friday.
The airstrike targeted earlier today the car of the militants in the Hawra district, the mouthpiece of the ministry, the September 26 website, said.
“The militants were with their personal guns and explosives and it was believed they had planned to carry out terrorist attacks,” the website quoted local security sources as saying.
Six bodies of them were taken to hospital and two were left at the scene because they were completely burned, it added.
In the past few days, a number of Al-Qaeda members were killed in airstrikes by US-drones in southern and southeastern regions including Abyan where the army drove militants out of their strongholds in May.
The army launched a US-backed offensive against Al-Qaeda in April-May regaining key towns in Abyan and Shabwa and killing hundreds of them including senior leaders.
After the victory, the authorities launched the massive hunt for the remaining militants and tens of them as well as cells have been arrested including those in the capital Sanaa.
In what appeared to be retaliation for the severe blows, Al-Qaeda has recently carried out the deadliest suicide bombings in main cities including Sanaa with military and security chiefs, personnel and offices key targets.