At least five soldiers were killed and others injured in a suspected Al-Qaeda ambush in Yemen's eastern Hadramout province on Wednesday.
A security source was quoted by Almasderonline.com as saying that Al-Qaeda militants targeted a security patrol escorting a post vehicle in the Al-Shihr district killing almost five and injuring others of those who were in the patrol.
The militants intercepted the patrol, fired on the soldiers and looted YR 10 million the vehicle was transporting from Mukalla city, the source was quoted as saying.
A hunt was launched for the suspects, the source said.
Since its foundation in 2009, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula AQAP has stepped up attacks against the army and the security forces throughout the republic, mainly in southern, southeastern and eastern regions, with most of the AQAP attacks reported in the last year.
Dozens including commanders and high-ranking officers were killed and injured in ambushes, suicide attacks and direct raids against security patrols, military convoys, intelligence and security buildings and cars.
In response, Yemen has been waging large-scale operations against militants killing, injuring and arresting many of them.