ADEN, Yemen, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's army forces killed several al-Qaida militants including two high-ranking military leaders during fierce confrontations in the southern volatile province of Abyan, the country Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry said that troops of the army forces killed two most dangerous al-Qaida military leaders in Zinjibar city, Aidh al- Shabwani and Awadh al-Shabwani, who were in charge of al-Qaida members in restive Marib province.
The army troops supported by armed tribesmen were launching large chasing campaigns and military operations against the al- Qaida militants in various areas of Abyan province, where dozens of the terrorist group members were killed or injured, according to the ministry.
An officer of the 25th Mechanized Brigade told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that units of the army troops made progress towards the al-Qaida-seized Zinjibar city and managed to force the terrorist group members, who were stationed in the southern entrances to flee the areas as a result of the heavy shelling attacks against their hideouts.
Meanwhile, a local medic at the Bashuib military hospital based in Aden city told Xinhua the at least ten soldiers were seriously injured during the clashes with al-Qaida militants in Abyan province and receiving treatment at the hospital.
Abyan, some 480 km south of the capital Sanaa, is a key stronghold of the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
Government forces launched intensified air raids and fierce battles against the terrorist group a month ago, after the latter seized two largest Abyan's cities of Jaar and Zinjibar, about 480 km south of the capital Sanaa.
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