Five killed in Yemen raid

At least three Al Qaeda militants and two soldiers were killed Friday during a raid by security forces in Yemen, a security official said.

"About three Al Qaeda members were killed after the security forces launched an anti-terrorism operation in mountainous Damet region in southern al-Dhalea province Friday," the security official told Xinhua.

The armed terrorists were attempting to escape and exchanged fire with the security forces, killing two soldiers, he said.

The security forces also seized several weapons and destroyed two houses and two vehicles, the Yemeni official added.

Last week, Al Qaeda militants killed 24 Yemeni soldiers of the special forces in an attack on a military barracks in the southeast province of Hadramout.