At least 11 militants and one soldier were killed in Jaar and Zinjibar, the most important strongholds of Al-Qaida in Abyan province in south Yemen, military sources said on Sunday.
Two more soldiers were also injured in ongoing battles as the army has been fighting Al-Qaida militants to retake key towns in Abyan including the capital Zinjibar, which were seized in mid-2011, the sources said.
The battles aimed at retaking the 7th October factory on the edges of Jaar were the fiercest since the army has further stepped up the offensive against the militants in the past few months, they continued.
The militants were killed in artillery shelling and airstrikes targeting militant positions and fighters in the two towns, the sources said.
Military reinforcements have deployed to Abyan to back the forces and tribal fighters to clear the militants from Abyan.
Hundreds of Al-Qaida militants including senior leaders have been killed in the battles and the forces have so far cleared militants from key areas in Abyan.
The army is receiving direct support from the US, with drones targeting killing many militants in Abyan, Shabwa and Baidha.
Separately, the Raqeeb Organization said on Sunday about 207 civilians have been killed in the battles between the army and tribes in the districts of Nihm, Arhab and Bani Jarmouz outside Sanaa.
The figure included 21 children, it said, pointing out that about 83 other children were injured and tens of others kidnapped and abused.
Hundreds of civilians have been also wounded due to the shelling on these areas and about 20,000 people have fled their homes.
In its report on the damages caused by shelling on these areas which started in mid-2011, the organization urged all rights agencies to pay visits to the areas to have a look on the tragic situation there.
Furthermore, it urged the authorities to remove all mines, put an end to the tragic situation in these areas including compensating the most affected families.