Some 30 people have been killed in clashes between suspected al-Qaeda militants¹ and the army in Yemen's south, officials say.

也门官员称，基地组织嫌疑分子与军队在南方发生冲突，大约30人死亡。

At least 17 soldiers and 12 suspected militants were killed.

A military official said the rebels had occupied an army post in Mallah, Lahij province, and the government responded with artillery²（火炮） fire and air attacks.

Islamist militants have renewed attacks on the army since President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi took office last month.

President Hadi has made fighting al-Qaeda one of his top priorities.

The militants have taken advantage of a year of anti-government protests and have been locked in deadly battles with the army for months.

One military official told AFP that in the latest fighting "two army tanks and three al-Qaeda vehicles were destroyed".

He said several soldiers had been seized by al-Qaeda.