The attackers came at dawn and beat at several locations to simultaneously: In coordinated attacks on army bases in Yemen Qaeda militants have killed more than 50 soldiers. The government in Sanaa has lost control of entire areas.

The terrorist group “al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula” (AQAP) has killed at least 50 soldiers in coordinated attacks in southern Yemen. According to security sources, the militant Islamists are said to have attacked at dawn on Friday three military bases in the province of Shabwa.

The AQAP fighters are said to have attacked the barracks in dense fog. The soldiers, who are responsible for the security of oil fields in the region, had been surprised by the attack, an army spokesman said. Two barracks before the bombers are said to have detonated car bombs. Then the attackers stormed the premises. There were struggles for hours to another.

Dozens of security forces were injured in the attack, including at least eight attackers were killed. According to the Al Jazeera correspondent in Yemen, AQAP fighters are said to have taken several people hostage.

The Shabwa province has for years been the scene of bloody battles between the state army and Islamist militants and tribal fighters. In parts of the region AQAP has already taken control with allies. The U.S. Army goes for months intensified drone attacks against insurgents before, in which civilians are killed and over again.

Since 2009, the U.S. military has killed almost all the leaders of the al-Qaida offshoot in Yemen, but the group seems to be getting stronger. Only in August, the government in Washington urged all U.S. citizens to leave the country.