Sana'a, May 26 (IANS) At least 20 Al Qaeda terrorists were killed Saturday in an operation launched by the Yemeni army in southern Abyan province, the defence ministry said.

Elements of the 25th Mechanized Army Brigade attacked a terrorist stronghold on the outskirts of Abyan capital Zinjibar, killing 20 terrorists, mostly Somali nationals, Xinhua reported citing a ministry statement.

Two soldiers were killed and four others injured during the attack, the ministry said.

Around 30 terrorists fled the war-zone in pick-up trucks, but were bombed by Yemeni warplanes. The casualty figures were not immediately available, an army commander told Xinhua.

A Yemen-based Al Qaeda branch - locally known as Ansar al-Sharia - is attempting to expand its foothold and take control over the county's southern regions.