Al-Qaeda back in southern Yemen cities, say residents

Ahmed Al-Haj | AP
An Al-Qaeda logo is seen on a street sign in the town of Jaar in Yemen’s southern Abyan province in this June 15, 2012 file photo. Residents on Thursday said the extremist group is back in the cities of Abyan that they have earlier left under an agreement with tribal groups. (AP)

SANAA, Yemen: Witnesses say that Al-Qaeda fighters have been seen in southern Yemeni cities, nearly a month after the militants withdrew from the towns following tribal-led negotiations.
Local residents reported Thursday that Al-Qaeda militants were seen in the cities of Jaar and Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan province. They say that during the day fighters can be seen driving pickup trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, but at night they retreat to hideouts.
The residents spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Al-Qaeda and Daesh group militants have exploited the security and power vacuum after rebels known as the Houthis seized the Yemeni capital in 2014 and the president fled to Saudi Arabia. The militants withdrew this spring under pressure from a Saudi-led coalition that is fighting the Houthis.