Simultaneous attacks on Yemeni army targets killed at least 40 people early Friday, underscoring the challenges that Sana’a faces as it attempts to weaken Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Security and military officials in Yemen told The New York Times they believe AQAP was behind the series of attacks in the country’s south, which included two car bombs and saw a gunmen opening fire on a group of soldiers:

The group is viewed by the United States and other Western countries as one of the most dangerous affiliates of the global terror network. In recent years, the group has tried to carry out several high-profile attacks, some meant to blow up international airliners, and its militants have assassinated dozens of Yemeni security and military officers.

The Washington Post reported last month that Al Qaeda was shifting its footprint inside Yemen, moving from the southern province of Abyan – which had been targeted by a 2012 army offensive – to the eastern province of Hadramaut. The province is Yemen’s largest and borders Saudi Arabia.

The dynamic is likely to renew calls for U.S. support to critical Gulf allies threatened by jihadist activities.

[Photo: TheGuardian / YouTube]