AL-MUKALLA: Yemeni military forces have driven out Al-Qaeda militants from a valley in the country’s southern province of Abyan, shortly after seizing control of a base used by the terror group in the same region. Mohammed Al-Naqeeb, a spokesman for the pro-independence southern forces, told Arab News on Monday that their troops took control of Al-Janan valley and the surrounding mountains soon after storming Al-Qaeda’s Al-Hajlah military camp in Moudia and advancing despite encountering landmines and improvised explosive devices. The Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, also known as AQAP, has long used a chain of mountains connecting the provinces of Abyan, Al-Bayda, and Shabwa as a haven for the recruitment of fighters, to hide hostages and weapons, and plot attacks against security and military targets throughout the country. Al-Naqeeb said that southern troops had moved deeper into other valleys in Moudia and closer to the border between Abyan and Al-Bayda to prevent Al-Qaeda militants from regrouping, sneaking into urban areas in Abyan, or hiding in dense undergrowth in the valleys. “The capture would enable the East Arrow forces to secure Moudia from Al-Qaeda elements coming from Al-Bayda and pave the way for capturing new areas in Abyan,” he added. Yemeni military and security troops launched the East Arrow offensive one year ago, targeting Al-Qaeda’s primary strongholds in rough and desolate valleys and mountains in the southern districts of Abyan and Shabwa. The troops have attacked Al-Qaeda military bases and concealment spots in the Omaran and other valleys, and mountains in the two provinces. Al-Qaeda has employed guerrilla tactics to combat the advancing forces, including the use of landmines, roadside bombs, and IEDs. A senior separatist military commander died after his vehicle ran over an IED planted by Al-Qaeda militants last week. And more than 100 soldiers have been killed and 200 others injured by the group’s explosives and counterattacks in Abyan alone since August last year.