Security officials confirmed on Friday that suspected al-Qaeda militants targeted two senior intelligence officers in the south-eastern province of Hadhramawt.
Colonel Omar Rabie Ben Amr, was gunned down by unknown terror militants as he was leaving a mosque in al-Qoton are after Friday congregational prayer.
Witnesses confirmed that the assassins managed to escape on a motorbike, a tool which al-Qaeda has been using in almost all of its targeted attacks against high ranking intelligence and security officers.
In al-Hota, Colonel Abdel Maguid al-Salami was also reportedly killed iby suspected Islamic militants right in front of his house.
Ever since the Yemeni government militarily reacted to al-Qaeda's move for control in its southern provinces in 2011 by launching an all-out war against its cells, positions and overall networks, terror militants have been running a protracted guerrilla-type movement against Yemen' security and intelligence apparatus in retaliation. As a result, dozens of intelligence and security officers have lost their lives.
Because of the very nature of the attacks, hit and run, the government has found prevention difficult. While many officers have admitted to be feeling vulnerable they all vowed not to allow the terror group to derail their efforts to eradicate Islamic extremism from Yemen.
Government officials, including President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi have often expressed their determination to see Yemen's counter-terror strategy through no mater the hurdles.
Fears however remain that al-Qaeda will seek to further destabilize the impoverished nation by going after its most senior state officials. Last Saturday's attack against Prime Minister Mohammed Salem Basindwa very much highlighted such apprehensions.