Almotamar.net - A top al-Qaeda operative was killed on Saturday in al-Majalah area of Abyan as the armed and security forces continue fighting against al-Qaeda militants in Abyan province.

A military official stated that al- Qaeda leader "Abu Islam al-Shaishani", a Chechnian national, was killed in al-Majalah area.

Al-Shaishani was the second of al-Qaeda foreign militants reported to be killed after "Abu Muslim al-Uzbeki" who was announced to be killed last Thursday.

Moreover, four al-Qaeda fighters were killed in Sanah area near Mahfad district of Abyan province as the armed and security forces backed by popular committees mount assault on al-Qaeda hideouts in the two fronts of al-Maajala in Mahfad and Ahwar area of Abyan province.

The terrorists' locations were bombed with artillery, Katyusha rockets and tanks besides air strikes, a military source said, adding "four terrorists were killed and many others wounded."

The strikes against the terrorists' strongholds forced the rest of the terrorists to flee to "Dhaiqa valley" nearby Mahfad district, leaving behind large quantities of weapons and ammunition that have been captured by the army and security forces, he said.

"Al-Qaeda militants have suffered today a crushing defeat," the source said, adding that they have withdrawn from the two main checkpoints in the main road in central Mahfad, which are now under the army's control."

The source stressed that the army is clamping down on the terrorists, adding "There are only few terrorists who have escaped to Dhaiqa valley, and they will be hunted."

Many leaders and dozens of fighters of al-Qaeda have been killed or arrested in an offensive since Tuesday. The offensive was launched by the military and security forces, backed by air force jets and popular committees aimed at clearing al-Qaida militants from their remaining hideouts in Shabwa and Abyan provinces.