A high-ranking military officer from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), was killed by al-Qaeda militants in southern Shabwa governorate on Tuesday, according to a security official.
"Ahmed Sulaimani, chief of staff of the First Brigade of Shabwa Defense Forces, lost his life when an explosive device detonated near his vehicle," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that Sulaimani was on a pre-dawn reconnaissance of his forces' positions in As Said area at the time.
The incident and three additional assaults against STC soldiers have been attributed to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The most recent incident highlights the ongoing security threats to the Yemeni government.