Suspected al-Qaida members attack Yemeni army, kill dozens

Officials believe al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula behind deadly bombings on two military targets in south Yemen.

By REUTERS
Soldiers in Yemen on patrol 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Soldiers in Yemen on patrol 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
ADEN - Suspected al-Qaida militants killed about 40 people in attacks on two military targets in south Yemen on Friday, security officials said.
Around 30 soldiers died when two car bombs exploded at amilitary camp in al-Nashama, near the coast, and about 10 policewere killed by gunmen in the inland town of Mayfaa.
Officials believe members of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) were behind both attacks, the security sources said. AQAP is seen by Western countries as one of the most dangerous branches of al-Qaida because it has attempted to carry out bombings on international airlines.
A concealed bomb in one car exploded among a group of soldiers at the gate of the al-Nashama camp as the driver sought to enter. The other was already inside the camp when it exploded, one of the security sources said.
In Mayfaa, gunmen opened fire on a military headquarters, killing around 10 people, before escaping in stolen army vehicles, local residents said.
Maintaining stability in impoverished Yemen is a priority for Washington and Gulf states because of its location next to major oil shipping routes and Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter.
Both attacks took place in Yemen's southern Shabwa Province, a lawless, rugged area that has been the scene of much fighting in recent years between Islamist militants and the security forces.
Militants took advantage of political chaos in Yemen during the Arab Spring in 2011 to seize control of some towns and surrounding areas in the south of the country.