US drone strike in Yemen kills 7 suspected militants

SANAA, Yemen – Yemeni officials say a U.S. drone strike on a car outside the capital of Sanaa has killed at least seven suspected al-Qaida militants.

The officials say the drone attack took place Wednesday near the town of Khwlan, some 35 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of the capital. Military officials and tribal witnesses say the car was destroyed, and burnt bodies could be seen inside the wreckage.

The officials and witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Also, the Interior Ministry raised the death toll from a drone strike on Tuesday from three suspected militants to five.

Al-Qaida in Yemen is considered among the world's most active branches of the network.

The United States rarely comments on its military role in Yemen.