Militant groups believed to be linked with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) clashed with government forces on Sunday in the southern restive province of Abyan, local sources said.
The militant groups of Ansar al-Sharia, AQAP offshoot in the country, were involved Sunday morning in fighting among themselves, leaving some of them wounded, according to the local sources.
Local media reported on Sunday that two militants were wounded when the various groups of Ansar al-Sharia were setting a checkpoint in Moudia district of Abyan.
Yemen-based al-Qaeda wing has expanded its foothold in the southern and southeastern restive provinces of the country, taking an advantage of the distracted government.
In unrelated incident on Saturday evening, AQAP militants managed to assassinate a senior intelligence commander in the southern restive province of Lahj.
Major Kamal al-Shwal was killed when al-Qaeda militants in Lahj ambushed his convoy, a security source told Yemen Post on condition of anonymity.
After killing him, they clashed with army forces in downtown Lahj city, the source said, adding that the group attempted to seize control of the city, but when it found firm resistance, they ran away.
AQAP has stepped up its assassinations and attacks on security and army officials as of late, and so far it managed to assassinate at least dozens of high-ranking commanders of the security and army institutions, especially from intelligence departments.