Violent explosions have been heard in south Yemen, local sources have just told Arabstoday. It is believed that airstrikes targeted some al-Qaeda groups hidden in the mountainous areas of the Abyan province. The number of casualties is still unknown. Local sources told Arabstoday earlier today that al-Qaeda militants have been rushing towards the mountainous area over the past two days. There are suspicions that they were accompanied by senior leaders fleeing the Maareb province, following recent confrontations with the Yemeni army as well as tribesmen. Local media sources have also reported that armed clashes erupted between al-Qaeda gunmen and pro-army Popular Committee groups, with two Committee security checkpoints falling into the hands of al-Qaeda.