Seven individuals suspected of having linked with global Islamist militant organisation al-Qaeda have been killed during a raid by the Yemeni army in the eastern province of Hadhramaut Wednesday. Yemen\'s Defence Ministry confirmed the army\'s chief commander was killed, and five soldiers injured in the operation. In a statement, the ministry described the operation on \"strongholds of armed terrorist group al-Qaeda in governorates of Gil, Bawzir, and al-Shahr\" as successful, adding that forces carried out direct strikes on militants who were \"targeting members of armed forces and unsettling public tranquillity.\" The ministry claimed that seven militants, including a senior a al-Qaeda leader were killed in the operation, adding that soldiers also destroyed weapon storage facilities, and seized \"cars, motorcycles and explosives used in assassinations.\" The army commander killed in the operation was named as Lieutenant Colonel Ghalib al-Mansoon, who belongs to the second military region in the 27 Mika brigade.