ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least four members of Yemen's security forces were killed in a pre-dawn attack carried out by suspected al-Qaida gunmen in the southern province of Abyan early on Friday, a government official told Xinhua.

The government source, who asked to remain anonymous, said that a group of gunmen launched a multi-pronged attack against a security checkpoint in Mudiyah district, where terrorists have strongholds.

Another three security members were wounded in the pre-dawn attack that targeted the forces backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the source said.

The Aden-based Yemeni government sent additional troops backed by armored vehicles to reinforce the soldiers stationed in Mudiyah district, he said.

The government source confirmed that an investigation was launched, while a search operation is being conducted in the area for the determining hideouts of the attackers.

The suspected al-Qaida gunmen fled the scene before the arrival of additional reinforcements, according to local residents.

Government officials, including high-ranking security commanders and intelligence officers, have been the prime targets in kidnapping incidents as well as armed attacks launched by unknown gunmen in recent days.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile.