[IsraelTimes] The number of al-Qaeda members killed in strikes on southern Yemen blamed on the United States has increased to nine, a Yemeni security source tells AFP.The official in Abyan province, which borders the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government in Aden, says the strikes killed nine members of the group, including a local leader.
The security official, who earlier said the attack had taken place on Friday evening in north Khabar Al-Maraqsha, adds that the strikes hit several locations in the mountainous area known to be used by Al-Qaeda.
“I saw five charred bodies at one of the targeted sites, as well as a burned-out car,” a local tribesman tells AFP, adding others killed in the strikes were at another location.
Earlier, a second security official, who confirmed an initial toll of five al-Qaeda members killed in the attack, also said that while the names of those killed were unknown, it was believed one of the group’s local leaders was among the dead.