Heavy fighting between Yemeni security forces and al-Qaeda fighters on Tuesday in southern Yemen killed at least 20 Islamist militants, the Dubai-based Al Arabiya reported late Tuesday.
The broadcaster, which quoted a Yemeni official, said the deaths occurred in a fierce battle near the town of Zinjibar, the capital of the southern Abyan province, dpa reported.
It added that Yemen's air force bombed militant positions in the militant-controlled town of Jaar, also in Abyan province, inflicting a number of casualties.
Fighting has been raging in the province of Abyan since Saturday between Yemeni troops and militants from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP.
Security has collapsed across Yemen amid the nine-month popular uprising aiming at ousting President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The uprising has allowed Al Qaeda militants to take advantage of the situation and establish some strongholds especially in the Abyan province.