A senior al-Qaeda leader was killed on Friday in a military operation carried out by elite forces in Yemen’s oil-rich Shabwah province. Al-Qaeda “emir” Nayef Tarmou al-Diyani was killed by the Shabwah elite forces in the Khora region in the Merkhah Al Ulya District, military sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. A number of other Qaeda operatives were detained in the attack, they added. The operation was backed the Saudi-led Arab coalition. It saw the elite forces carry out surprise raids against al-Qaeda hideouts in the city of Khora that left Diyani dead. The forces also confiscated several explosives and hand grenades in the raids. Al-Qaeda had taken up the Khora region as a hideout and crossing point between the Shabwah and al-Baydha provinces. It also used it to launch terrorist attacks against the citizens and legitimate government. Diyani took part in the planning of several terrorist operations in Shabwah. Shabwah’s elite forces had in a short time struck many military victories against terrorist groups in the province and it is credited with restoring security and stability in the province. The elite forces have been trained by members of the Arab coalition. Their successes on the ground have seen them seize control of the province’s 16 districts and contain the threat of terrorist groups.