Sanaa , Yemen ( CNN ) -- Twin suicide attacks in southern Yemen killed 12 tribesmen early Sunday morning , authorities said . The tribesmen are part of a small force fighting al Qaeda-affiliated militants in Abyan province . In one of the attacks , a suicide bomber approached a group of fighters , shook hands and sat with them before detonating explosives , tribal fighters said . The blast killed five people , in addition to the bomber . In the second attack , seven people were killed in addition to the suicide bomber , the fighters said . Clashes in Abyan have been ongoing since May , when suspected al Qaeda militants took over the province and declared it an Islamic emirate . The militants call themselves `` Ansar Sharia , '' and say that their mission is to spread Islamic law in Yemen . Government forces , with the help of local tribal fighters , have succeeded in retaking control of parts of the province .
The tribesmen are part of a small force fighting al Qaeda . In one of the attacks , a suicide bomber shakes hands with the fighters before detonating . Clashes in the province have been ongoing since May .