Yemen's military says its troops have seized control of an Al-Qaeda stronghold, killing at least 18 militants.
A Defense Ministry statement said on April 20 that government forces captured a district of the city of Zinjibar, in southern Abyan Province, a stronghold of the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Sharia group.
The statement said the rest of the city was controlled by militants.
The attack was part of a government offensive that began two weeks ago in Abyan.
Officials say the offensive has led to the deaths of 250 militants and 37 Yemeni soldiers.
Al-Qaeda has exploited the power vacuum left by the Arab Spring-inspired protests, which eventually forced Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign.
His successor, Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi, took office in February and has vowed to fight Al-Qaeda.
A Defense Ministry statement said on April 20 that government forces captured a district of the city of Zinjibar, in southern Abyan Province, a stronghold of the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Sharia group.
The statement said the rest of the city was controlled by militants.
The attack was part of a government offensive that began two weeks ago in Abyan.
Officials say the offensive has led to the deaths of 250 militants and 37 Yemeni soldiers.
Al-Qaeda has exploited the power vacuum left by the Arab Spring-inspired protests, which eventually forced Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign.
His successor, Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi, took office in February and has vowed to fight Al-Qaeda.
