Yemeni officials say the latest government airstrikes in the country's south have killed 43 al-Qaida militants. Military officials say government forces on Tuesday took control over a mountainous area of al-Rahha in the southern province of Lahj, after pounding al-Qaida hideouts there for the past three days. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The offensive followed a surprise attack by militants on a Yemeni army base in the area earlier in the weekend. Al-Qaida-linked militants have taken advantage of a year of internal political turmoil to expand their gains in south Yemen.