Yemeni Officials: Air Strike Targeted Al-Qaida Leaders

Yemeni officials says senior al-Qaida leaders were the target of an air strike that killed at least 15 people.

A government statement said Thursday's strike in the central province of Bayda targeted a car belonging to an al-Qaida leader. It said a number of high-ranking officials involved in planning terrorist operations were on board the vehicle.

The statement did not say who carried out the air attack.

Local officials say the victims of the strike were mostly civilians who were in a car headed to a wedding party.

The U.S. military carries out drone strikes over Yemen in support of the country's fight against al-Qaida's Yemeni arm -- al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. Critics say civilians have also been victims of the strikes.