Security forces raided locations in two Yemeni provinces killing and arresting dozens of suspected terrorists, the state news agency SABA reported Thursday, CNN.

The raids took place in Yemen's capital Sanaa and the southern province of Abyan. Security forces killed 34 terrorists and and arrested 17 suspects that were linked to al Qaeda, the agency reported.

Al Qaeda in Yemen has been a growing concern for the country's government and the United States.

In late July, Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command, and an accompanying delegation met with Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

One of the topics of discussion was how to better combat terrorism, according to SABA.