ABYAN — The Yemeni army assisted by popular committee defense fighters continued their bombardment on Al-Qaeda operatives’ hideouts in Lawdar during the couple of past days, killing dozens of the terrorists, and wounding others.

Ali  Abeeda, the official spokesperson for the popular committee defense fighters, told Yemen Times that, “fierce clashes occurred between Al-Qaeda militants and the army assisted by the tribal fighters-- formed to help the army retake control of the towns taken over by Al-Qaeda—early this month in Lawdar.”

“15 militants of Al-Qaeda have been killed on Wednesday morning in Al-Ain area. Also, six tribal fighters and three soldiers were killed in the clashes,” Abeeda said.

“22 Al-Qaeda operatives were killed on Tuesday in the fierce clashes with the popular militias and the army. The Air Force was involved in the battles,” he added.

Abeeda indicated that there is considerable cooperation between the tribesmen who fight alongside the army troops and the 26 Brigade which belongs to the Republican Guards and the 111Mechanized air force Brigade, saying that they are even sharing the ammunitions and food.

He further pointed out that the army troops and the armed tribesmen managed to clear the strategic Yasouf Mountain, which overlooks Lawdar town from the eastern side and where the militants of Ansar Al-Sharia were positioning, The army along with the tribal fighters and have taken full control of the mountain on Tuesday morning after violent clashes with the terrorists.

“Two Al-Qaeda operatives were captured and that we only have to comb Al-Ain area which has been cleared of terrorists recently,” said beeda.

In the same vein, a military official said on Tuesday that four soldiers from the 111 Infantry Brigade and 4 tribesmen from the popular tribal fighters have been killed during the clearing operation of Yosouf Mountain.

The source told the official Saba news agency that also 33 Al-Qaeda militants were killed, some were injured and some others were taken prisoners.

The military official added that the army troops have delivered painful strikes against the militant group in Ja’ar town, Al-Qaeda stronghold, and that many of their operatives were killed and wounded.

He stressed that the military operations carried out by the 26 Brigade, 111 Infantry Brigade and the tribal fighters have achieved considerable accomplishments in their efforts to completely eradicate the terrorists.

For his part, President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi hailed what the brave troops of 26, and 111brigades as well as the central security forces and the tribesmen affiliated with the army have accomplished in their battles against militant Al-Qaeda, Saba said.

Last month, Hadi said on May 6 that the battle with the Al-Qaeda terror organization has not started yet, and vowed that it will continue until the militants are completely eliminated.

US experts confirmed this past Thursday that the cooperation in counterterrorism front with the Yemeni government has witnessed a tangible progress after the departure of the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and indicated that the foiling of a plot to blow up an airliner bound for US was a main fruit of this progress.

America Voice Radio reported citing US experts in counterterrorism that the battle against Al-Qaeda has gained momentum during the few past months after Saleh was eased out from power last November.