Yemen army says seizes Qaeda bastion in major advance (Reuters via Yahoo)

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Yemen army says seizes Qaeda bastion in major advance

By Mohammed Mukhashaf | Reuters – 1 hr 11 mins ago

ADEN (Reuters) - Yemen's army recaptured the last al Qaeda stronghold in restive Abyan province on Friday, officials and residents said, in a major advance in its U.S.-backed offensive to drive militants from towns across the south of the country.

Jubilant residents took to the streets to celebrate the rout of the Islamists from the port town of Shaqra, the third significant base to fall in less than a week, witnesses told Reuters.

Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the army was now massing troops outside the town of Azzan in neighboring Shabwa province - the militants' last major bastion across the whole of the south, apart from a number of small settlements.

The United States, concerned that al Qaeda was gaining a new foothold in the Middle East, provided training for the army offensive and other support, including drone strikes.

http://news.yahoo.com/yemen-army-recaptures-third-rebel-bastion-south-075642827.html