Some 500 al-Qaeda terrorists were killed and tens wounded in the recent offensive launched by the Yemeni Army against them in the southern provinces of Shabwa and Abyan, the army spokesman said on Thursday.
Besides those killed, 39 militants of Al-Qaeda have been arrested, Saeed Al-Faqih said in his first press conference since his appointment, Yemen News Agency (Saba) reported.
The army backed by tribal fighters launched in April 29 the offensive against Al-Qaeda aiming at eliminating Al-Qaida militants from their remaining hideouts in Shabwa and neighboring Abyan.
"40 soldiers were killed and 100 others were wounded in the recent operations," Al-Faqih said. He stressed that the military operations are continuing and will include the areas where Al-Qaeda militants have fled.