Summary Al-Qaeda-linked suspects on Wednesday shot dead three air force generals from Al-Anad air base.
ADEN (AFP) - Al-Qaeda-linked suspects on Wednesday shot dead three air force generals from the strategic Al-Anad air base in the southern province of Lahij, a military official told AFP.
"Gunmen shot dead three pilots with the rank of general north of Huta (the provincial capital) as they were heading towards Al-Anad air base," said the official, adding that the killers were "suspected of belonging to Al-Qaeda."
Officials said last year that Al-Anad air base was being used by US soldiers to train local forces in combating terrorism.
Al-Qaeda network was driven out of most of its strongholds across Yemen s south in an army offensive backed by US drone strikes last year.
At the peak of the offensive in May and June 2012, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula -- classified by Washington as the global network s deadliest branch -- published a list of names of Yemeni pilots based at Al-Anad which it vowed to target for conducting air strikes against extremists hideouts.
In October 2012, the Yemeni army foiled a car bomb attack on Al-Anad targeting American soldiers there, military officials said.
