Yemen's Interior Ministry has declared its intention to expand war against Al-Qaeda, stating that it will not halt its fight against Al-Qaeda until the defeat of the organization.
Violent clashes have been continuing for two weeks in Lawdar town of Abyan governorate between Al-Qaeda militants who attempt to take control on the town and tribesmen backed by the army.
Al-Qaeda has been taking control on several towns of Abyan which include Zinjibar, the capital of the governorate, since May as it exploited Yemen's disturbance in the past year.
In a statement, the Interior Ministry has affirmed that the war against terrorism will expand to everywhere Al-Qaeda or any other terrorists groups existed.
It stated that Al-Qaeda received painful blows in Abyan, affirming that dozens of its operatives were killed and wounded.
Local officials say that over 150 Al-Qaeda militants were killed during the recent clashes, but the organization denies that.
The Interior Ministry highly appreciated the role played by tribesmen who formed what is called public committees to fight the militants.
Yemen's Defense Ministry said that air raids in a southern town have killed six Al Qaeda-linked fighters, pointing out that the raids were carried out early Wednesday against militant positions in the southern town of Lawder in Abyan province.
Military sources have said About 200 soldiers of US-trained Yemeni forces were sent to fight Al-Qaeda militants in Lawdar of Abyan governorate, reiterated that the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh had refused to send the US-trained counter-terrorism forces to fight Al-Qaeda.
The sources said President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi had ordered to send forces to engage in street fight with al-Qaeda.