A security official announced a surprise attack carried out Tuesday by suspected al-Qaida militants and took lives of two soldiers or Yemen's newly-recruited forces in country's southern province of Abyan.

On state of anonymity, the local security source said "Suspected militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch set up an armed ambush and killed two pro-government soldiers in Al Mahfid district, southeast of Abyan."

He added that a military vehicle boarded by food supplies for the pro-government soldiers stationed in the area was targeted by the ambush.

A residential building belonging to a commander of the local security forces in Al Mahfid was struck earlier this week by militants of al-Qaida group.