Gunmen killed at least 16 soldiers in an attack on a military checkpoint in Yemen Friday, a government official said.
"The ambush took place on the road of Shibam city in Hadramout province. Army troops at the checkpoint came under heavy gunfire which left 16 to 18 soldiers dead," the government official said.
The official said two high ranking army officers were among those killed, reported Xinhua.
Witnesses near the scene said three or four militants raided the checkpoint, located in Shibam city, in the afternoon killing many soldiers.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.