Yemen launches major anti-Qaeda offensive

The Yemeni army has launched a large-scale operation targeted at al-Qaeda fighters in southern towns, an Al Arabiya News correspondent.

The operation comes after a surge in air strikes killed nearly 60 militants last week.

Army troops backed by local militiamen had moved in to "purge" the towns of Ahwar and al-Mahfad, in Abyan province, and Azzan, al-Houta, al-Rawda and al-Saeed in Shabwa province, the official told Agence France-Presse, speaking on condition of anonymity.