SANAA, Yemen (AP) – Yemeni security officials say six al-Qaida suspects have been killed and 12 others wounded in army attacks on militant positions around the country.

The officials say two militants were killed Friday in airstrikes in southern Abyan province. The attacks came days after militants overran a military post in the area.

The officials also say four militants died when the military shelled their positions in Marib province, to the east of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Washington considers Yemen’s al-Qaida offshoot to be the world’s most dangerous branch of the terror network. The U.S. is helping the Yemeni government battle the militants.

Al-Qaida has retaliated by carrying out assassinations of several senior Yemeni military officials.