Aden, May 14 (IANS) At least six Al Qaeda militants were killed when their convoy was bombed by Yemeni military helicopters in Yemen’s south-eastern province of Shabwa Tuesday, authorities said.

“Military helicopters struck an Al Qaeda weapon convoy composed of three pick-up trucks in Bayhan region on Shabwa’s outskirts, killing six terrorists at the scene,” Xinhua quoted a government official as saying.

An army officer confirmed the incident, saying the fighter jets struck the arms convoy in a remote area linking Shabwa and Marib.

“The targeted convoy was carrying different kinds of weapons and ammunition from Shabwa to Al Qaeda militants in north-eastern province of Marib,” the army officer said, adding that the arms cargo was completely destroyed.

The Yemeni army, backed by the US military support, has waged a wide-scale assault against Al Qaeda strong-holds since late April. Territories in Azzan and Mahfad — two of Al Qaeda’s main bastions — have been recaptured.

The Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), considered a major threat to the Yemeni government and neighbouring oil-rich Saudi Arabia, has vowed to hit Yemen’s main cities, including capital Sanaa, and has carried out suicide car attacks and roadside bombings across the country.