Al-Qaeda attacks military positions in Yemen's Abyan

By Fatik al-Rodaini

SANA'A, May 21, 2012- Madad News Agency claimed on its page on Facebook that all military positions in the Yemeni city of Ba’jdar of Abyan province were attacked by Ansar al-Sharia, an Islamic group linked to al-Qaeda.

"All the positions of the Sana’a regime forces in Ba’jdar fall to Ansar Al-Sharia after a surprise attack," the agency said on Monday night.

The group reported that they also killed Yemeni soldiers in the attack as cited a media source of Ansar Al-Sharia who confirmed that the attack resulted in the death of more than 40 soldiers from the Sana’a regime forces as well as the injury and escape of tens of others from their positions.

The website stated that the mujahidin controlled after fierce clashes between the two sides, and he clarified that eight mujahidin were martyred Allah willing during the battles during which the mujahidin seized all the military equipment present in these locations.

Madad said the group looted several military equipment, including a tank and anti-aircraft caliber 37 and a group of RPG launchers with its rockets and three Pekka and more than 70 Kalashnikovs and various amounts of ammunition.

The website added that the group burned a military truck loaded by weapons and ammunition.

So far all government officials are refusing to comment on the matter.