Yemen on open war against al-Qaida, denies terrorist allegations: ministry
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Yemeni Defense Ministry said Thursday it has been carrying out an open war against al-Qaida affiliates across the country, denying al-Qaida's allegations of killing over 50 soldiers in battles last month in the southern province of Abyan.
"Our forces have been carrying out a powerful, open war against those criminal-terrorist elements of al-Qaida affiliate; our forces were operating all counter-terror ways to eradicate such terrorist group," the ministry said in a communique issued on its 26sep.net news website.
"The statements attributed to these terrorist elements were baseless allegations, but the desperate attempt of the misguided terrorists to cover up their harsh defeats and severe damage by the security and army forces," said the communique in response to alleged al-Qaida's statements published late Tuesday.
The ministry's communique reaffirmed that security forces had regained control over Lodar city in Abyan, the scene of week-long battles at the end of last month, killing a number of the terrorist elements and arresting another large-scale members of them who were under investigation till now.
On Tuesday, the Yemen-based al-Qaida claimed responsibility for killing a senior security official in Marib province, as well as over 50 soldiers in battles erupted late last month in Lodar city of the southern Abyan province, according to statements issued on jihadist forums.
The terrorist regional affiliate also denied the Yemeni government's reports on arresting 14 members of al-Qaida fighters in security sweep in Lodar, as well as the reports that the government troops have taken control of Lodar city.
On Aug. 20, deadly battles erupted in Lodar city and lasted for more than a week after al-Qaida fighters killed 11 soldiers in an ambush in the city.
Abyan, Shabwa and Marib provinces are believed to be strongholds of multinational fighters of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The U.S.-backed Yemeni government has intensified security operations and air raids against terrorist groups after the Yemen- based al-Qaida claimed responsibility for a botched attempt to blow up a U.S. passenger plane bound for Detroit last December.
