**Yemen has launched an air strike against a suspected al-Qaeda cell in the north of the country, killing six militants, says the defence ministry.**Officials quoted by the AFP news agency said those killed included an al-Qaeda commander, named as Qassem al-Rimi.
Reports say he is believed to be al-Qaeda’s military commander in Yemen.
A security official quoted by Reuters said: “Two cars carrying eight dangerous al-Qaeda members were hit in an area between Saada and al-Jouf.”
“Two may have survived and escaped”, he added.
On Wednesday another al-Qaeda chief - Abdullah Mehdar - was reported killed in a gunfight when Yemeni security forces surrounded a house in Shabwa province.
Security operations against alleged militants were stepped up after a Yemen-based al-Qaeda group said it carried out the failed bomb attack on a US-bound airliner on 25 December.
Analysts say al-Qaeda militants have been moving to Yemen after coming under pressure in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and following a crackdown in Saudi Arabia.