Yemen: New Fighting in South Kills 13 Militants Yemeni military officials say a new round of shelling, airstrikes and fighting near an embattled southern town has killed 13 al-Qaida fighters. The officials say the clashes between militants and the army took place early Monday north and west of Jaar, which has been under militant control for more than a year. The army has launched an offensive to dislodge al-Qaida from strongholds they seized in the south during last year's unrest. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with the regulations, said some of those killed were inside three houses demolished by artillery shelling. A Defense Ministry statement said the army, supported by tribal gunmen, seized Monday the town of Ahwar which is close to the al-Qaida-held coastal town of Shaqra.