Rising death toll in the offensive south of Yemen to 85

Medical sources said on Monday that 85 soldiers were killed in two suicide bombingsand clashes were followed with fighters linked to al-Qaeda in southern Yemen on Sunday.

The militants detonated two vehicles loaded with explosives at two military sites outside the city of Zanzibar, South Yemen in the early Sunday morning, sparking violent clashesbetween Islamist fighters and troops.

The medics said on Sunday that the death toll among the troops 35. The military source said that some soldiers were missing as well.

And attacks by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility is the latestsince President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi took office last month.

The violence underlines the challenges they faced while trying to restore stability to Yemen after protests against his predecessor, Ali Abdullah Saleh, which lasted years.

Source: Reuters