ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- An official of Yemen's pro-government security forces and four soldiers were killed in an explosion that struck their vehicle in the country's southern province of Abyan on Sunday, a military official told Xinhua.
"The explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device targeting a patrol of the pro-government southern security forces in Mudiyah district of Abyan Province," the local military source said on condition of anonymity.
The explosion also injured three security personnel, the source confirmed to Xinhua.
According to the source, the device was planted by militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch who sporadically attack local forces in the region.
He revealed that security and military forces affiliated with the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council are preparing a new large-scale military operation against terrorist hideouts in Abyan.
In September, forces loyal to the Yemeni government evicted scores of militants of the al-Qaida terrorist group from the Abyan following days of armed confrontations.
The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula network has exploited years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi militia to expand its presence in the war-ravaged Arab country. It has carried out many high-profile attacks against the security forces in the country's southern provinces.
