Yemeni security officials confirmed on Thursday that an American-led drone strike aimed at one al-Qaeda' stronghold south of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, killed five alleged terror militants.
The drone missiles hit four terror suspects as they were traveling in the desert area of Wussab al-Ali, about 140 Km south of Sana'a, in the province of Dhamar said a local official, adding that a second strike aimed directly at a house killed a fifth suspect, Hamed Radman, a man who has been identified by the American intelligence services as a jihadist.
Eye witnesses spoke of tunneling smoke rising above the hit area.
Security officials in Sana'a justified the hit by explaining that Radman was believe to be playing an important role as recruiting agent for al-Qaeda in the province, branding the strike a tactical success.
Four days after the Boston marathon bombing Yemen security services intensified their crackdown against al-Qaeda. A reported 15 individuals were arrested and a number of residences raided by the security forces.
With Yemen al-Qaeda having been identified as the most dangerous terror branch in the region, Yemen and the U.S. Have been keen to crackdown on the group's activities and abilities to fan out cells throughout the country.
After Yemen military managed in 2012 to free the southern province of Abyan, al-Qaeda is believed to have move its operations in the provinces of Dhamar, Ibb and Hodaidah a Yemen official told AFP on condition of anonymity.