Yemen’s army to launch massive offensive targeting 200 al-Qaeda militants

Yemen - The local authorities of Lawdar district, on Saturday, gave 24 hours deadline for the militants of al-Qaeda and other militants affiliated to the southern movement to surrender themselves otherwise the houses they are taking as barracks would be bombarded.
Local sources said that civilians of Lawdar evacuated their homes on Saturday fearing a big battle between the government security and military forces and between the al-Qaeda militants and their militant allies affiliated to the so called Southern Movement.
The sources said that over 200 al-Qaeda militants supported by around 200 militants affiliated to the southern movement have been controlling the entrances of Lawdar town and its key centers.
According to the local sources the military and security forces are surrounding the town and that hundreds of troopers were deployed to Lawdar after fierce confrontations broke out between al-Qaeda militants and their allies and between the security forces on Friday and Saturday resulting in killing 12 soldiers and at least five al-Qaeda fighters and wounding at least 10 of the militants.
The sources said that the campaign launched by the government is lead by the Yemeni Minister of Defense himself.
The sources expected massive military operation within the coming 24 hours to get rid of al-Qaeda fighters and their allies.  
Meanwhile local sources in Zinjubar town the capital of Abyan province affirmed that a firm security measures were taking by the security and military forces that sat up barracks and checkpoints in the entrances and on the streets of Zinjubar town.

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