Aden — At least five soldiers affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) were killed and 15 others wounded in a coordinated attack by suspected militants from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in southern Yemen.

According to local security officials, the assault occurred early Tuesday in the Al-Mahfad district of Abyan Governorate. The attackers reportedly detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) at the entrance of a military installation housing the First Support and Reinforcement Brigade, followed by an armed assault on the compound.

Brigadier General Nasser Atef Al-Yafei, commander of the Abyan Combat Axis, confirmed the casualties and stated that STC forces successfully repelled the attack after intense clashes. Security units also managed to destroy two additional explosive-laden vehicles before they reached their targets.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks attributed to AQAP, which remains active in parts of southern Yemen despite ongoing counterterrorism operations. The group has exploited the country’s prolonged conflict and political fragmentation to maintain a foothold in remote areas.

Authorities have launched a security sweep in the surrounding region and pledged to intensify operations aimed at dismantling militant networks in Abyan and neighboring provinces.