![Yemeni forces stand guard as smoke billows near the entrance to Abyan province during an operation to oust al-Qaeda on April 23rd, 2016. Yemeni forces are still battling al-Qaeda in the province. [Saleh al-Obeidi/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2017/09/19/9668-Yemen-abyan-soldiers-700_496.webp)
Security belt forces and special operations units in Yemen's Abyan province on Monday (September 18th) besieged al-Qaeda's emir in Lawdar, and killed him after he refused to surrender, a local official told Al-Mashareq.
The carefully-planned security operation "was aimed at arresting Mohammed al-Awsaji, al-Qaeda leader in Lawdar", said Abyan local council member Abdul al-Majeed al-Salahi.
"After besieging him, the forces ordered him to surrender, but he entered into a losing battle with the forces that ended with his killing," he told Al-Mashareq.
"The security belt forces also arrested Aqeel Amtali, another al-Qaeda leader," he said.
The people of Abyan have suffered a lot since 2011 as a result of al-Qaeda’s presence in their province and control of certain areas, the council member said.
"The successes made by the security agencies in Abyan are primarily due to the co-operation of people who want to see stability back in their province," he said.
Attack on Seiyun checkpoint
Meanwhile, suspected al-Qaeda elements on Monday attacked a military checkpoint in Seiyun in Hadramaut province, killing two soldiers.
"Al-Qaeda and its cells operate in Hadramaut Valley and they are behind such operations against the security elements and army officers," deputy Hadramaut governor Sheikh Abdul Hadi al-Tamimi told Al-Mashareq.
"The security plan which Prime Minister Ahmad Obaid bin Dagher approved for Hadramaut Valley during his recent visit to Seiyun is yet to be implemented," he said.
"The Prime Minister has issued instructions for supplying the security forces with the necessary weapons and assets to crack down on al-Qaeda elements in their hideouts," he added.
"The governor will return in the next two days to Seiyun and will oversee the implementation of the security plan personally," he said, adding that military supplies from the 2nd Military District may be used in the interim.
Assassination attempt in Aden
In another development, Deputy Interior Minister for Police Services Maj. Gen. Mohammed Messaed al-Amir on Monday survived an assassination attempt in Aden.
Security forces managed to arrest two of the attackers, while the rest fled, local media reported.
According to a ministry official, gunmen intercepted al-Amir’s convoy and engaged in a shootout with his security guards.
The car was damaged, but the official was not hurt.
Meanwhile, the 1st Military District command on Monday carried out a military crackdown on terrorist elements suspected of carrying out assassinations in Hadramaut Valley, arresting four, local media reported.
