By Hakim Almasmari

U.S. drone strikes targeted al Qaeda hideouts in southern Yemen on Wednesday, killing at least nine suspected militants, three senior security officials said.

No senior al Qaeda leaders died in the attack in the Shabwa province town of Azzan, the officials said. The strikes' targets included a home suspected of harboring militants, the officials said.

The defense ministry said 30 people died in Azzan airstrikes, but did not clarify whether all the fatalities were caused by the drone strikes or Yemeni forces, who are also conducting airstrikes in the area.

Militants headed to Azzan after they lost control of Abyan province Tuesday, sending the town's residents fleeing over fear of more strikes.

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