Three individuals were killed on Saturday in clashes between suspected al-Qaida militants and pro-government forces in southern Yemen, according to a military official and tribal leaders. The violence erupted in the evening when militants believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda launched an attack on the United Arab Emirates-backed Shabwa Defense Forces near the town of al-Musnaiya in southern Shabwa province. The assailants used machine guns during the assault, resulting in a gun battle that lasted for several hours.
Two fighters from the Shabwa Defense Forces and one militant lost their lives before the militants eventually retreated. The ongoing civil war in Yemen, which began in 2014 when Houthi rebels backed by Iran seized the capital city of Sanaa and significant portions of northern Yemen, has led to a dire situation. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition, including the UAE, intervened to support the internationally recognized government and counter the Houthi rebels. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), known for its dangerous nature, operates in various conflict-affected regions of Yemen, including Shabwa and other remote provinces.
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