YEMEN - A total of 12 al-Qaeda men were confirmed dead after a security operation went down against a training camp in al-Majalah, Abyan, south of Yemen, said a security official Saturday.
The Mohammed Saleh al-Kazimi, Mukbel Abdullah Awadh Shiekh, Ahmed Abdullah Awadh, Methak al-Jalad, Abdullah Awadh Shiekh were confirmed dead in al-Majalah area, an unnamed official said in statement published by state-run media.
Two Saudi nationals, Ibrahim al-Najdi, Mohammed Rajeh al-Tharan were among a group who were buried in Sairah Cemetery, Mudiah district, Abyan, said the official.
Five more foreigners, with unknown identities, were buried in Zarah Cemetery in Lawdar district, Abyan, added the official.
Targeted training camps were established under the protection of Tarek al-Fadhli, Abdul Munem al-Fathani, and Mohammed Saleh al-Kazimi.
There were five men who were injured in the same operation: Abdullah Salem Ali, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Kaed, Haidarh Salem Alia Fatah al-Amri, and Mohammed Ali Salem, disclosed the official. All were al-Qaeda operatives and are now having treatment under the supervision of the security authorities.
Three security soldiers and two citizens were injured when a group of al-Qaeda terrorists, led by Ali Alawi Yahmur, attacked a security vehicle after the Thursday's strike nearby Mudiah.
For Arhab and Sana'a operations, the official said that the number of al-Qaeda operatives arrested after Thursday;s operation was raised to 29 men, including the 13 who were arrested inside the city of Sana'a the same day.
Operations in Arhab were against a group of al-Qaeda elements, including 8 suicide bombers, led by Aref Mujali and Hezam Mujali. They were about to implement operations using car bombs and explosive belts, the official said.
However, Abdul Elah Haidar Shaye'e, an expert in terrorism affair, downplayed the two operations of al-Majala and Arhab, saying it will only increase the new recruitments of al-Qaeda.
"For Arhab, it was only clashes between the tribesmen and security forces, no al-Qaeda men were there," Shaye'e, an Arhabi citizen, told Yemen Observer.
When asked why the tribesmen clashed with the security men, he said the tribesmen got angry when anyone attacks them, whatever the reason was and whoever the attacker was.
"For al-Majalah, it was against civilians, which means al-Qaeda will gain from that strike by recruiting a lot of angry people," he said.
When asked if the al-Qaeda members were living in the al-Majalah with their families, he said, "The only al-Qaeda man was Mohammed Saleh al-Kazimi, who was killed with his whole family."