Al-Qaida targeted in Yemen airstrike

SANA, Yemen - An airstrike targeting suspected al-Qaida training camps in a rugged mountain region in southern Yemen killed a number of fighters Sunday, a high-level government security committee said, without specifying a casualty figure.

The Supreme Security Committee, which includes the defense and interior ministers, as well as the country’s intelligence chief, said the attack struck the rugged Mahfad mountains between Abyan and Shabwa provinces. But its statement did not identify who carried out the attack.

The official news agency SABA quoted an unnamed official from the security committee who said those killed in the strike included foreigners and suspected leading figures in al-Qaida. It was not possible to independently verify a casualty figure because of the difficulties of getting to the remote area where the strike took place. The committee said the suspected al-Qaida members were plotting to target vital military and civilian installations, without elaborating.