A high-ranking military official of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) aligned with the Yemeni government was killed in an attack by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen's southeastern Shabwa province on Tuesday, a security official said.

"Ahmed Sulaimani, chief of staff of the First Brigade of Shabwa Defense Forces, lost his life when an explosive device detonated near his vehicle," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding Sulaimani was on a pre-dawn inspection of his forces' positions in As Said district when killed.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the attack and three other separate assaults on STC forces.

The latest attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing the Yemeni government, as various armed groups continue to vie for control amid a protracted civil war between the government and the Houthi group, which has devastated the nation since 2014.

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