The six people were travelling in a two-vehicle convoy in Mahfad in Abyan, a Yemeni military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Sunday.

"A night drone strike targeted two cars of Al-Qaeda militants in Wadi Dhiqa in Mahfad, killing the six people inside them," the official said.

The United States has stepped up its drone attacks in Yemen on pretext of fighting al-Qaeda terrorists.

US drones strikes in Yemen nearly tripled in 2012 compared to 2011, from 18 to 53, according to the New America Foundation, a Washington-based think tank.

Several people have been killed by US drones, including civilians who live in restive regions in Yemen.

The administration of US President Barack Obama is using armed drones for its extensive targeted killing program in several countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

NTJ/SHI