Four suspected al Qaeda members were killed in an apparent US drone strike on the jihadis' stronghold in southeastern Yemen, The Daily Star cited a local official as saying on Thursday.

The raid late on Wednesday targeted a 4x4 transporting the four suspects near Mukalla, capital of Hadramawt province, with a missile leaving the vehicle charred, the official said.

The United States, the only country known to operate armed drones over Yemen, has carried on with strikes on militants during months of fighting between pro-government forces and Shiite Houthi rebels.

Source: MENA