In this photo provided by Yemen’s Defense Ministry, Yemen’s army soldiers hold up their weapons at an area seized from al-Qaida in the southeastern province of Shabwa, Yemen, Thursday, May 8, 2014. AP
SANAA, Yemen— Yemeni military and security officials say a suspected U.S. drone strike in a southern province has killed six al-Qaida militants.
The officials say Monday’s attack targeted a car in the Husoun al-Jalal area of Abieda Valley in Marib province.
They say authorities are checking for the identities of the slain militants. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Drone strikes killed more than 12 suspected al-Qaida militants in the same area late last year and in early January. The US has carried out dozens of suspected drone attacks against al-Qaida in Yemen, which Washington considers the terror group’s most active branch.
Over the past few weeks, Yemen’s military has stepped up an offensive to rout militants from their southern strongholds.
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