Al-Qaeda militants killed seven Yemeni soldiers during a clash in the southern region of Abyan, broadcaster Al Arabiya reported on Saturday.
The fighting occurred near Dofes, a village south of the provincial capital of Zinjibar that has been controlled by al-Qaeda extremists since the end of May, the Dubai-based television said, DPA reported.
"The militants who were hiding in a mountainous area managed to ambush an army unit that was heading to Zinjibar to help out an army unit" encircled in the same region, a military source was quoted as saying.
Al-Qaeda militants have taken advantage of the uprising against President Ali Abdallah Saleh that began in February and seized control of some strategic areas.
On Thursday, eight suspected al-Qaeda members were killed in an air strike in Abyan. It was not known whether the strike was carried out by US or Yemeni air forces.
Yemeni authorities have repeatedly denied direct US participation in their fight against al-Qaeda. But the US confirmed in June that it was carrying out what it described as "anti-terrorism" operations in Yemen.
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