Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s government secure a part of the base of the Yemeni Army’s 3rd Region in the country’s central province of Marib.

Masked gunmen suspected of belonging to Al-Qaeda killed three Yemeni soldiers in Aden on Thursday in the latest attack to target security forces in the southern city, an official said.

The soldiers were attacked as they walked down the main road in Inmaa district, the security official said, adding that the assailants managed to escape.

“They died instantly,” he said.

Al-Qaeda controls parts of the port city where the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi has set up base in its battle against Iran-backed Houthi militia.

With support from a Saudi-led coalition, Hadi’s forces have driven the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces since last July but the Houthis remain in control of the capital Sanaa and much of the north.

Al-Qaeda and the rival ISIS militant group have taken advantage of the conflict to gain ground in southern cities such as Aden.

They have claimed a string of attacks and assassinations in recent months.

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