Local officials in the southern restive province of Abyan confirmed to the press on Thursday that alleged al-Qaeda militants attacked a military location early Thursday, using mortar shells.
As a result of the unforeseen attack three military men were injured and referred to seek immediate medical attention.
“The mortar shells hit a military position located in Abyan’s outskirts. More than three army soldiers were injured in the attack,” a government source said.
According to preliminary reports the terror militants would have fired about three mortar shells against the military, one of which manage to actually land on a building, injuring personnel and damaging infrastructures.
“two shells fell near the military site, while the third one fell on a building used by army troops, causing damages and casualties," an anonymous source told Xinhua agency.
Moreover, a group of armed men believed to be linked to al-Qaeda attacked an anti-terror officer near Abyan military intelligence headquarters by attaching an explosive to his car. Although the bomb detonated, no one was injured.
While al-Qaeda has been known for attacking state and military infrastructures and personnel over the past two years, a mortar shell attack denotes of the resources the terror group still manages to acquire to spread chaos and instability in the region.
Ever since Yemen launched its National Dialogue Conference al-Qaeda has intensified its attacks in southern Abyan, trying to derail the state's progress toward reaching a national consensus and successfully achieving unity and reconciliation.
A united Yemen would indeed ill-serve al-Qaeda as its influence would slowly dwindle away and its regional relevance with it.