Yemeni forces arrest 2 wanted al-Qaida fighters in Abyan

Yemeni security forces caught two wanted al-Qaida operatives, including a commander, in Lodar city of troubled southern province of Abyan, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry identified the detained al-Qaida commander as " Salaah Ali Abdullah al-Damani" and said forces arrested him while he was running away after hurled a hand grenade against the police station in Lodar city.

The other wanted militant was identified as "M. Aietha", the ministry said in a statement posted on its website 26sep.net.

The captured pair brought the detained al-Qaida toll to 12 in Lodar alone since the fightings between the troops and alleged al- Qaida fighters raged on late last month.

It said an initial interrogation has been launched with the two detainees.

Early this week, the Yemeni Interior Ministry vowed to continue strikes on al-Qaida affiliates round the clock in the Abyan's city of Lodar.

On Aug. 20, deadly battles erupted in Lodar city and lasted for more than a week after alleged al-Qaida fighters killed 11 soldiers in an ambush in the city.

Lodar city of Abyan is believed to be a stronghold of al-Qaida forces in the Arabian Peninsula that has witnessed a series of deadly battles between suspected al-Qaida fighters and security forces late last month, leaving dozens of both sides dead or injured.

The U.S.-backed Yemeni government has intensified security operations and air raids against terrorist groups after the Yemen- based al-Qaida wing claimed credit for a botched attempt to blow up a U.S. passenger plane bound for Detroit in December last year.

Source: Xinhua