<p>"Our air force carried out a raid on terrorist elements who were planning attacks on vital installations (and) two Al-Qaeda leaders were killed," said a statement on the defence ministry's website.<br /><br />It did not specify what installations were being targeted, but said that the air strike happened in Moudia region -- around 300 miles (480 kilometres) southeast of Sanaa -- which is close to the oil-rich province of Shabwa.<br /><br />Yemeni authorities have intensified their campaign against the country's Al-Qaeda branch after it claimed a botched Christmas Day bid to blow up a US passenger plane over Detroit.<br />Earlier this month, a security official said 11 men were arrested in the capital Sanaa on suspicion of plotting attacks for Al-Qaeda.<br /><br />Al-Qaeda militants have previously targeted Western embassies in the city.<br />Security forces arrested three suspected members of Al-Qaeda on February 17 in Marib province, east of the capital and on January 16 the authorities announced the arrest of three other suspected Qaeda militants.</p>
<p>"Our air force carried out a raid on terrorist elements who were planning attacks on vital installations (and) two Al-Qaeda leaders were killed," said a statement on the defence ministry's website.<br /><br />It did not specify what installations were being targeted, but said that the air strike happened in Moudia region -- around 300 miles (480 kilometres) southeast of Sanaa -- which is close to the oil-rich province of Shabwa.<br /><br />Yemeni authorities have intensified their campaign against the country's Al-Qaeda branch after it claimed a botched Christmas Day bid to blow up a US passenger plane over Detroit.<br />Earlier this month, a security official said 11 men were arrested in the capital Sanaa on suspicion of plotting attacks for Al-Qaeda.<br /><br />Al-Qaeda militants have previously targeted Western embassies in the city.<br />Security forces arrested three suspected members of Al-Qaeda on February 17 in Marib province, east of the capital and on January 16 the authorities announced the arrest of three other suspected Qaeda militants.</p>