Yemen offensive on militants continues

JAAR — Yemen Wednesday pressed ahead with a US-backed offensive to drive Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents from the country’s south, a day after the army notched up its biggest victory in more than a year by recapturing two strategic cities. Three airstrikes targeted areas held by militants inside and outside of the town of Azzan, killing at least 30 fighters and wounding dozens more, Colonel Ahmed Al-Maqdashi, head of security in Shabwa province, said in statement posted on the Defense Ministry’s website. The attacks appeared to underscore the army’s determination to press home its advantage after recapturing the cities of Jaar and Zinjibar on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of Islamist fighters to flee. It was not immediately clear if Wednesday’s strikes were carried out by Yemeni warplanes or US drones. — Reuters