Three gunmen from the Shiite Houthi group were killed in a bomb attack in Yemen's central province of al-Bayda on Thursday, a tribal chief told Xinhua.

A bomb suspected of being planted by al-Qaida elements exploded in a Houthis Shiite-controlled village, killing at least three gunmen, the local tribal source informed Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Witnesses said that the bomb targeted a Houthi Shiite patrol group in the area.

A local commander of the Shiite Houthi group told Xinhua by phone that two suspected al-Qaida operatives were captured after the bomb attack.

The tribal leader blamed al-Qaida militants for the bombing attack. However, the terrorist group fighting both the Yemeni government and Shiite Houthis on several fronts has yet to claim responsibility.

The Shiite Houthi fighters have captured several villages and cities across Yemen's central regions, forcing hundreds of people to flee.

The impoverished Arab country has been caught up by regional al-Qaida insurgency since 2009. Terrorist groups, mainly based in southern and eastern provinces, have launched frequent suicide attacks on army and security targets, leaving hundreds of people dead. Endit

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