Unknown gunmen blow up oil pipleline in southeastern Yemen

ADEN, Yemen, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Unknown gunmen on Saturday blew up an oil pipeline in Yemen's southeastern province of Shabwa, causing a huge explosion, a local security official told Xinhua.

"An explosion targeted the pipeline which connects the oil field in Oqla area with Aydh district of Shabwa Province," the security source said on condition of anonymity.

"Security troops were deployed in the area and several firefighers went directly to the site to deal with the fire," the source added.

The Shabwa government said it suspects "sabotage elements" of "planting and detonating explosive devices" to destroy the pipeline.

No groups have so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but previous similar attacks in the region were claimed by al-Qaida militants.

Shabwa boasts five sectors of crude oil production, which produce about 15,000 barrels per day.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida branch and the Islamic State (IS) militants are active in the mountainous areas in the provinces of Shabwa and Abyan and carry out sporadic attacks against government forces. Enditem