An Al-Qaeda suicide bomber blew himself up in south Yemen late on Saturday killing at least 23 people and injuring another 20, security sources in Abyan province said.
“The bombing targeted a condolence ceremony by the pro-government fighters in the Jaar town,” one of the sources said by telephone. “The attacker detonated his explosives belt inside the meeting room and that was shocking”.
The victims were offering condolences to head of the pro-government fighters, who supported the army in the offensive that drove Al-Qaeda militants out of their strongholds in Abyan in May, the source continued.
It was the deadliest attack in Abyan since the defeat of Al-Qaeda in May. In recent weeks, suspected militants raided villages and military and security posts some parts of Abyan killing and injuring several troops.
Separately, military sources said several Al-Qaeda militants were killed in an airstrike in Hadramout province amid an extensive hunt for key operatives after the defeat of Al-Qaeda.
Through April-May, the Yemeni army launched a US-backed offensive and retook control of key towns in Abyan including the capital Zinjibar and killed hundreds of militants including senior leaders.
After the victory, the authorities have been hunting the militants who fled from Abyan and Shabwa provinces after reports said they had planned to regroup and build centers to recruit new fighters.
Many cells and terrorist suspects have been arrested so far.
In retaliation for the blows, Al-Qaeda has carried out deadly suicide bombings targeting military and security chiefs, personnel, cadets and offices in several cities including the capital Sanaa.