An airstrike targeted two cars that were believed to be carrying Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen killing those who were inside one of the cars, Almasdar Online reported on Tuesday quoting local sources.
The strike was carried out in the Qahb Al-Hisan area between Marib and Hadramout provinces, the website said, adding the area was unpopulated.
“A drone, believed to be a US one, struck one car burning it completely and killing those who were inside,” it quoted the sources as adding.
The second car was not affected and ran away, it said, pointing out there were not details about the number of those who were killed.
However, the website quoted a security source as saying that one of the killed was a Saudi militant named Salim Mubarak Al-Saiary.
The US has been carrying out deadly drone attacks in southern and southeastern regions of Yemen where Al-Qaeda militants sought shelter amid a continuous hunt for the remaining operatives after their defeat in the south.
The Yemeni army launched in April-May a US-backed offensive and drove Al-Qaeda militants out of their strongholds in Abyan and Shabwa provinces. Hundreds of militants including senior leaders were killed in the offensive; some in drone attacks.
In recent weeks, Al-Qaeda has carried out the deadliest suicide bombings targeting military and security chiefs, personnel, offices and cars in what appeared to be retaliation for its severe defeat.
The US is providing direct support to the Yemeni authorities to fight Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the most dangerous branch of Al-Qaeda, which was founded from the Yemeni and Saudi terrorist wings in 2009.