Al-Qaeda deals severe blow to Yemeni Army

Al-Qaeda killed 16 soldiers in an attack on an army base in south Yemen yesterday, medical and military sources said, in a further show of strength by militants despite a US campaign of drone strikes to neutralize them.
Two militants disguised in army uniforms drove an explosives-laden car into the military base in Shuqra, a town in the southern province of Abyan, and detonated them inside, a military official said. Moments later, other militants assaulted the base from the sea and a fierce battle ensued.
At least 16 soldiers and 8 militants were killed, according to medical and military sources. An initial death toll that counted 13 militants as dead was revised down to eight after five of those killed were identified as uninvolved civilians.
“The two suicide bombers were wearing army uniforms, and even their car had a military numberplate, so they didn’t raise any suspicion,” a wounded Yemeni soldier told Reuters from hospital.
Many Yemenis complain the US focus on militants is a violation of sovereignty that is driving many toward Al-Qaeda and diverting attention from other pressing issues such as unemployment, corruption and economic revival.