Sanaa, January 26: Yemeni security forces have arrested five suspected members of the al-Qaeda network during an operation in the southern province of Abyan.
The al-Qaeda-linked militants attacked a security checkpoint in the town of Lawder, 250 km (155 miles) southeast of the capital, Sana’a, on Tuesday.
The militants were injured during an exchange of fire with Yemeni anti-terrorism forces and later captured, Xinhua news agency cited Yemen’s Defense Ministry as saying on Tuesday.
According to the report, a Yemeni soldier was also injured in the confrontation.
A local al-Qaeda leader, identified as Ameen al- Said, was among the five militants arrested on Tuesday. The miscreant is implicated in armed attacks against Yemeni security and army personnel in the south of the country.
Yemeni security forces are carrying out major operations in Abyan and adjacent Shabwa province against al-Qaeda elements.
The Yemeni Interior Ministry has pointed out that terrorist elements are being tracked down round the clock and attacked wherever they appear.
The Yemeni government is struggling with a looming al-Qaeda presence in the south.
A total of 178 Yemeni security soldiers lost their lives in clashes with al-Qaeda militants last year. At least 852 others were also injured in the combats, according to the recent statistics released by the Yemeni Interior Ministry.
——-Agencies