The latest fatalities brought to 10 the toll of soldiers killed since clashes erupted at Dofes, a village south of the provincial capital of Zinjibar, which was overrun by militants in late May.
Four soldiers were killed on Sunday when troops attempted to advance towards Zinjibar.
Air and naval forces took part in the overnight fighting to back up the progress of ground forces that was hindered by "Al-Qaeda fighters hiding in farms and rugged areas," the official said.
Meanwhile, six suspected Al-Qaeda fighters were killed Monday in clashes with government forces which advanced on Al-Matla, 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Zinjibar, said a medic at Aden`s Basuhayeb military hospital.
The medic said that the army brought the bodies of the six gunmen to the hospital.
A source close to the militants said "Al-Qaeda lost 26 fighters," adding that "16 bodies were entirely charred."
A medical source at a military hospital in the port city of Aden said on Sunday that three militants were killed.
Since the end of May, fighters linked to Al-Qaeda have seized control of several Abyan towns, taking advantage of the weakening of central authority amid nationwide protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The veteran leader has been recovering in Saudi Arabia for more than two months from bomb blast wounds. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
