US strike follows a series of raids over the weekend killing 9 13 suspected al-Qaeda militants, believed to include both foreign and local leaders of the organisation, were killed in an explosion in a house in Almanasih, south-east of Sanaa on Saturday night .
Although the bodies have not been identified, authorities believe the incident was caused by explosive devices housed in the building, which al-Qaeda reportedly uses to manufacture bombs and hold meetings.
Security sources told ArabsToday that "a series of explosions rocked the home of Ahmad Abdullah Daifallah Alzahab, nicknamed al-Ragie, on Saturday evening, leading to the deaths of 13 al-Qaeda militants.”
Sources meanwhile suggested the explosion was caused by high-explosive bombs being prepared for car bomb attacks targeting local military institutions.
Al-Qaeda elements reportedly rushed to the house to prevent residents from approaching, thereby unveiling the circumstances of the explosion and revealing the identities of organisation members. Official sources said among the deceased were “dangerous leadership elements.”
Yemen’s official news agency, Saba, quoted a Beidha local government official Ali Mohammed Al Mansouri as saying: "At 1800 hrs on Saturday we received information regarding loud explosions caused by improvised explosive devices [IEDs], resulting in the deaths of over 10 terrorists.”
Mansouri confirmed that the building was “completely destroyed.”
Almnash, in Beidha province, contains a high number of tribal elements loyal to al-Qaeda. It is also known as the birthplace of the organisation’s leadership, Tariq Alzahab, who was killed in an armed confrontation with family members one year ago.
On Sunday afternoon a suspected US drone strike also targeted al-Qaeda militants in Marib province, reportedly killing three. The strike follows a series of raids on Saturday which also killed nine people.