42 people killed in clashes between Yemen military and al-Qaida in the country’s south

By Associated Press,

SANAA, Yemen — Yemeni military officials say 42 people have been killed in heavy clashes between the army and al-Qaida-linked militants in the country’s south.

The officials say the military used warplanes and heavy artillery in its assault early Sunday on the town of al-Hurur in Abyan province, killing at least 30 militants.

Al-Hurur is just outside the city of Jaar, which is one of many towns in southern Yemen that have been under the control of al-Qaida fighters since last year.

The officials also say 12 government troops were killed Sunday in fighting in the town of al-Code and the provincial capital of Zinjibar.

In the capital, Sanaa, President Barack Obama’s counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, met with the new Yemeni president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.