The unmanned warplane targeted an Al-Qaeda vehicle in Rodhoum area in Shabwa province late Wednesday killing its six passengers the official said.

The United States is the only country known to operate armed drones over Yemen home to what it considers to be the jihadist group's most dangerous affiliate -- Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

It has kept up strikes on jihadists during months of fighting between pro-government forces and Iran-backed Huthi rebels who control the capital.

Islamist militants including AQAP and the Islamic State group have gained ground in the south with AQAP fighters seizing the town of Azzan in Shabwa earlier this week.