The National: A security soldier and a civilian were killed in an ambush in southern Yemen on Tuesday night, suspected to have been carried out by Al Qaeda.

The attack was in Wadi Al Khayalah in Al Mahfed district, in the east of the Abyan province, said Capt Salah Al Yousfi, spokesman for the Security Belt Forces.

Killed were soldier Aydan Ali Awad, 33, and civilian Rabiea Kadash, 36.
“The ambush was set up in Wadi Al Khayalah junction," Capt Al Yousfi said. "It’s recognised as one of the main strongholds of Al Qaeda in the province of Abyan."
Al Qaeda has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

On Sunday there was an attack on the home of a commander of the Rapid Action Force, a division from the Security Belt Forces in Abyan province.

On January 2, two Security Belt fighters were killed, two wounded and two kidnapped by militants believed to be from Al Qaeda, who attacked a checkpoint held by the force in Al Mahfed.

Military and security sources said they were highly concerned as Al Qaeda fighters returned to Abyan last summer.
The extremists were exploiting a halt in military operations by UAE-trained forces last summer during a dispute between the Yemen government and the secessionist Southern Transitional Council.

“We have information regarding the return of hundreds of elements linked with Al Qaeda and ISIS,” Gen Naser Salem, the operations room officer in Abyan, told The National.

A security soldier and a civilian were killed in an ambush in southern Yemen on Tuesday night, suspected to have been carried out by Al Qaeda.

The attack was in Wadi Al Khayalah in Al Mahfed district, in the east of the Abyan province, said Capt Salah Al Yousfi, spokesman for the Security Belt Forces.

Killed were soldier Aydan Ali Awad, 33, and civilian Rabiea Kadash, 36.
“The ambush was set up in Wadi Al Khayalah junction," Capt Al Yousfi said. "It’s recognised as one of the main strongholds of Al Qaeda in the province of Abyan."

Al Qaeda has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Sunday there was an attack on the home of a commander of the Rapid Action Force, a division from the Security Belt Forces in Abyan province.

On January 2, two Security Belt fighters were killed, two wounded and two kidnapped by militants believed to be from Al Qaeda, who attacked a checkpoint held by the force in Al Mahfed.

Military and security sources said they were highly concerned as Al Qaeda fighters returned to Abyan last summer.
The extremists were exploiting a halt in military operations by UAE-trained forces last summer during a dispute between the Yemen government and the secessionist Southern Transitional Council.

“We have information regarding the return of hundreds of elements linked with Al Qaeda and ISIS,” Gen Naser Salem, the operations room officer in Abyan, told The National.