Leader in al-Qaeda killed in Abyan

ABYAN, Nov. 29 (YPA) – A senior al-Qaeda leader was shot dead by gunmen in southern Yemen’s Abyan province on Saturday, local sources said.

According to the sources, gunmen ambushed the local leader of al-Qaeda Abu Salem al-Walidi nicknamed “Abu Amir” while he was driving his car on the outskirts of al-Khadira in Lauder district.

Sources said al-Qaeda elements were behind the assassination as part of a conflict of wings loyal to regional powers.

The source confirmed that al-Walidi, a former financial official of the organization in Abyan province, was killed instantly in the ambush.

The source pointed out that al-Walidi was arrested on December 6, 2017, during a campaign carried out by the UAE-backed security belt forces on the sites of the organization between the directorates of Mudiyah and Mahfad north-east of Abyan, before releasing him later.

The central directorates in Abyan province have been witnessing widespread of al-Qaeda elements.

E.M