Two US drone strikes have killed at least seven suspected Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen's northeastern province of Marib, a security official said on Wednesday.

"Two Al Qaeda leaders, Saleh al-Awlaki and Saeed Ba-Kadir, were targeted and killed along with five others in two separate airstrikes late on Tuesday night," the official told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.

The airstrikes were on two cars in different locations east of Marib, which has long been a hub of Al Qaeda activities. 

The first car was hit on a road in Atran area, while the other was hit at the same time at a junction linking the areas of Al-Shabwan and Hoson Al-Jalal, said the official. KT