A Yemeni military official says a suspected US drone strike has killed six alleged Al-Qaeda militants in the group's southern strongholds.

The official said Sunday the attack took place late Saturday in the town of Mahfad in Abyan province and targeted a car carrying the suspected militants. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said security forces have identified three of the slain men. He gave no further details.

Washington considers Al-Qaeda's Yemeni branch, known as the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as one of the world's most dangerous terrorist groups.