Al-Qaeda withdraws from parts of Yemen

Al-Qaeda has pulled out from the town of Azzan, its last stronghold in the southeastern province of Shabwah, according to a local source.

The source, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told the Anadolu Agency that a large number of Al-Qaeda fighters withdrew from Azzan yesterday, as Saudi-led coalition forces launched a military campaign in some of the southern provinces against the militant organisation.

The source added that cars belonging to Al-Qaeda were seen carrying some of its members and escaping to an unknown destination following heavy bombing by the jet fighters of the Arab military coalition on some Al-Qaeda sites in the city during the past three days.

Last Saturday, an airstrike targeting an Al-Qaeda gathering in Azzan resulted in four deaths and three injuries that were described as “serious”.

Al-Qaeda gained control of the province in February.