At least four soldiers belonging to Yemen's Republican Guard were killed and three others wounded on Thursday in clashes with separatist gunmen in southern Lahj province, a local security official told Xinhua.
The official said on condition of anonymity that the clashes took place in the city of Yafee in Lahj.
"An armed group of the separatist Southern Movement attacked a battalion of the Republican Guards in al-Ar Mountain at al-Hab Road in Yafee, killing four soldiers and injuring three others," the official said.