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Fighter jets bomb al-Qaida weapon convoy in SE Yemen, killing 6

13 May 2014 23:51 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. About six al-Qaida militants were killed when their weapon convoy was bombed by Yemeni military helicopters gunship in the southeastern province of Shabwa on Tuesday, a government official said, APA reports quoting local media.

"Military helicopters of the Yemen's air forces struck an al- Qaida weapon convoy composed of three pick-up trucks in Bayhan region in Shabwa's outskirts, killing six terrorists at the scene, " the local government official said.

An army officer confirmed the incident, saying that the fighter jets struck an arms convoy in a remote area linking Shabwa and Marib. The weapons were supposed to be transported to the al-Qaida militants.

"The targeted convoy was carrying different kinds of weapons and ammunition from Shabwa to al-Qaida militants in northeastern province of Marib," the army source said, adding that the arms cargo was completely destroyed.

The Yemeni army, backed by the U.S. military support, has waged a wide-scale assault against al-Qaida strongholds recently.

The Turkish Defense Ministry has announced the killing of many non-Yemeni al-Qaida members during the major military offensive launched by the armed and security forces since late April.

Territories in Azzan and Mahfad, two of al-Qaida's main bastions, have been recaptured by the army troops.

The al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), considered as a major threat to the Yemeni government and neighboring oil-rich Saudi Arabia, has vowed to hit back in Yemen's main cities, including the capital Sanaa.

The AQAP militants have retaliated by carrying out suicide car attacks and roadside bombings across the country.