The Yemeni Defense Ministry issued a statement on Monday that an air raid against a "terrorist cell" in the Southeast of the country has killed two senior Al-Qaeda members.

"Our air force carried out a raid on terrorist elements who were planning attacks on vital installations, and two Al-Qaeda leaders were killed," added the statement.

It did not specify what installations were being targeted, but said that the air strike happened in the Moudia region –around 300 miles southeast of Sanaa –which is close to the oil-rich province of Shabwa.

Earlier this month, a security official said 11 men were arrested in the capital Sanaa on suspicion of plotting attacks for Al-Qaeda.

-AFP/NOW Lebanon