Islamist militants on Saturday attacked a military checkpoint in southern Yemen, killing up to 28 Yemeni soldiers, according to officials and a statement from an al-Qaeda linked group.

 

The militant group Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack, in a text message purportedly from the group.

“The holy warriors of Ansar al-Sharia this morning carried out the raid of dignity on the al-Hurur military checkpoint in Abyan,” read the message. Its authenticity could not immediately be verified.

Heavy fighting broke out at the checkpoint and Yemeni war planes eventually bombed the area, killing over a dozen militants and causing the rest to retreat.