Yemeni forces entered the Abyan provincial capital of Zinjibar on Sunday (August 14th), backed by coalition strikes, as they launched an offensive to recapture the southern part of the province from al-Qaeda, AFP reported.
Yemeni forces began an offensive in March against extremist groups in south Yemen, recapturing several cities. But they retreated from Zinjibar after al-Qaeda militants struck back.
Yemeni soldiers trained in Aden began to arrive in Abyan on Saturday, officials said, while coalition warplanes provided air cover.
On Sunday they re-entered the provincial capital after clashes with al-Qaeda.
"Zinjibar was retaken from al-Qaeda fighters, most of whom have fled" the city, said military commander Abdullah al-Fadhli, who is leading the offensive.
He said fighting was still under way, however, in northern districts of the city.
Late Saturday, four extremists were killed in strikes that targeted the coastal town of Shoqra.
On Sunday, a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a military convoy in Abyan, killing three soldiers, army sources said.
