ADEN: Yemeni special forces retook an army base and freed several hostages hours after Al Qaeda militants disguised as security personnel seized the site in southeast Yemen, killing at least four soldiers, a military official said yesterday.
Dozens of militants had stormed the headquarters of the army’s Second Division in the city of Al Mukalla and captured some military personnel. At least nine soldiers were wounded, the official said.
“The anti-terrorism special forces clashed with Al Qaeda militants and killed a number of them,” the official said. He said a number of militants were arrested, including some who had been wounded during the clashes.
The Islamist militants began their attack by blowing up a car laden with explosives near the base’s gate, Saba state news agency said.
“They caused confusion because soldiers at the base thought they were being attacked by members of the Central Security apparatus,” the official told Reuters earlier on Monday.
He said special forces personnel had been flown from Sanaa to Mukalla ahead of the operation to retake the base.
REUTERS
