Yemen’s Defense Ministry claimed that today its forces killed Anwar al Awlaki, the American cleric who serves as an operational commander for al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen. Samir Khan, another American who runs Inspire magazine, is also said to have been killed. The report has not been confirmed.

“The government of the Republic of Yemen announced today the death of Anwar Al Awlaki, the American born terrorist and member of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” the message stated. “Awlaki was targeted and killed 8 KM from the town of Khashef in the Province of Jawf (140KM east of the Capital Sana’a). The operation was launched earlier today at around 9:55 AM, local time.” Al Jawf province is a haven for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

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The terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which some suspected of carrying out a deadly attack in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Tuesday, has denied responsibility for the explosion.

The People’s Defense Forces (HPG), the armed wing of the PKK, told the Fırat news agency, known to have close contact with the terrorist organization, it has nothing to do with an explosion that left three civilians dead. The statement, released on Wednesday, said, “Attempts to hold the PKK responsible for the attack aims to boost enmity against Kurds and to target Kurdish civilians.”

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Fierce clashes overnight between government forces and Islamist militants in southern Yemen killed 14 people, including 12 militants, Yemeni officials said Wednesday.

Loud explosions and exchanges of gunfire were also heard late Wednesday in Sana, the capital, in the neighborhood where the leader of the main tribe opposing Yemen’s president lives. Blasts and gunfire could also be heard early Thursday, Reuters reported, and it said that Al Arabiya television had reported two deaths.

Three explosions were also reported near police stations and an intelligence agency office in Aden, a city in southern Yemen.

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Three government troops were killed and four others injured on Sunday, when a landmine planted by al-Qaeda militants exploded in the southern province of Abyan, an army officer said.

The army officer, who asked to remain anonymous, said that a landmine exploded on the eastern outskirts of Zinjibar city, the provincial capital of Abyan, which was freed on Saturday by a large campaign of the Yemeni army forces.

“A landmine exploded when an army convoy was heading to the Amodia area to track the rest of the al-Qaeda militants,” the army officer from the 119th Armored Brigade told Xinhua.

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A military official said that four soldiers were killed Tuesday in clashes against fighters suspected to have links with al-Qaeda, which the army is trying to eliminate in the city of Zanjibar, Abyan, in the south of Yemen.


A medical source said that fifteen soldiers were wounded in the battles.

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