DHAKA: At least 23 people have been killed after suspected al-Qaeda fighters simultaneously attacked two army positions in southern Yemen, highlighting a deteriorating security situation which is the toughest challenge facing the government.

General Mohsen Saeed al-Ghazali, an aide to the country’s defence minister, nine other soldiers and 13 fighters died in the clashes, which focused on military positions in Azzan and neighbouring Jul al-Rida.

The army said on Wednesday, reports Al Jazeera.

The attacks come five days after defence minister Mohamed Nasser Ahmad and two senior security officers survived an ambush as they returned from the south, where the army is pursuing a fortnight-long campaign to clear the area of al-Qaeda fighters.

‘The toll of the clashes between the army and terrorists have left 10 soldiers dead, including a general, and 13 in al-Qaeda ranks,’ a military officer told media.

‘The Yemeni air force is participating in the battles, bombing columns of al-Qaeda vehicles trying to advance towards Azzan,’ the Shabwa provincial city the army said it retook last Thursday, the source said.

He said the situation there is now ‘under control’.

BDST: 1949 HRS, MAY 14, 2014