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Yemen air strike kills militants Dozens killed in Yemen air strike
(about 2 hours later)
At least 30 suspected al-Qaeda militants have been killed by an air strike in Yemen, say security officials. At least 30 suspected al-Qaeda militants have been killed by an air strike in a remote mountainous area of Yemen, say security officials.
An unnamed official told reporters the strike took place as dozens of militants gathered in Shabwa province, east of the capital Sanaa. An unnamed official told reporters the strike took place as dozens of militants gathered in Shabwa province, east of the capital, Sanaa.
Two senior al-Qaeda commanders in the Arabian peninsula could be among the dead, he said.Two senior al-Qaeda commanders in the Arabian peninsula could be among the dead, he said.
Al-Qaeda has carried out frequent attacks in Yemen in recent months.Al-Qaeda has carried out frequent attacks in Yemen in recent months.
The Saudi government has recently expressed its concern about the resurgence of the movement in the region.The Saudi government has recently expressed its concern about the resurgence of the movement in the region.
AFP news agency quoted the official as saying Saudis and Iranians had been at the meeting. 'Planning attacks'
AFP news agency quoted the security official as saying Saudis and Iranians had been at the meeting.
"We are still unsure if two of the top leaders have been killed or not," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
"One of them is the Saudi al-Qaeda member Nasser al-Weheshi."
Another official told AFP that the suspected militants had been meeting to plan terror attacks in Yemen, in retaliation for Yemeni military air strikes carried out last week.
Last week, Yemeni officials said they had killed 34 suspected al-Qaeda militants and arrested 17 in operations in Abyan province in the south and in Arhab, north of Sanaa.
Officials said the militants had allegedly been planning multiple suicide attacks, with eight of them preparing explosive vests at the time of the raids.
Analysts say Yemen has long been an ideal base for jihadists.
With its rugged mountains and traditionally weak central authority, it is terrain well suited to militant groups looking for hiding places and training camps.