SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemen’s Defense Ministry says clashes in the south between al-Qaida and pro-government fighters have killed four on both sides.

A ministry statement on Friday says fighting in Jaar town in Abyan province left two militants and two pro-government militiamen dead. Five were wounded and three al-Qaida members were captured.

The statement says the militia known as Popular Committees — which has sided with the army in the struggle against al-Qaida — attacked the militants on Thursday to avenge the killing of one of its members.

The U.S. considers Yemen’s al-Qaida branch as the terror group’s most dangerous offshoot. Washington has helped Yemeni troops with airpower and advisers during last year’s offensive to drive the militants out of large areas they seized during the political turmoil related to Yemen’s 2011 uprising.