ADEN - A Saudi-led coalition carried out air strikes on the al-Qaida-held port of Mukalla in southern Yemen on Sunday, killing at least ten militants, medical sources and residents said, part of an offensive to recapture the city. Mukalla, a shipping hub and provincial capital, is a stronghold of the powerful al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) which has taken advantage of Yemen's year-long civil war to win control over parts of the south and east. Residents said air strikes hit a building that AQAP was using as its headquarters, as well as gatherings of the group elsewhere in Mukalla. A Yemeni military source said the air strikes were being coordinated with troops on the ground. In recent days, residents and local officials have reported preparations for a pro-government ground offensive on Mukalla.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)Updated: