Clashes on Monday between al-Qaeda suspects and Yemeni troops in the southeastern province of Hadramawt left nine people dead, three of them soldiers, the Defense Ministry reported.

“Six al-Qaeda terrorists were killed in clashes with soldiers at an army checkpoint at the western entrance to the town of Seyun,” a statement from the ministry said, according to Agence France-Presse.

Three soldiers were killed in the clashes, the ministry added.

Al-Qaeda militants have stepped up attacks on security forces from strongholds in south and southeast Yemen, where they remain active despite being weakened.

Three policemen were killed in a similar attack on Nov. 24, also in Seyun.
Home base

Yemen is the home base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which the United States views as the global militant network’s most dangerous franchise.

The country, on Sunday, began enforcing a temporary ban on motorbikes in the capital to prevent “shoot and scoot” attacks in the city during national dialogue sessions.

The interior ministry said the ban will last until Dec. 15 to “preserve security and stability” as Yemen undergoes a difficult political transition.

The attacks on members of the security forces have been blamed on the AQAP.

Al Arabiya