( CNN ) -- Yemen has poured thousands of troops into a battle with al Qaeda fighters in two southern provinces amid new airstrikes that killed a dozen of the militants Thursday , security officials said . Yemeni warplanes have been bombarding al Qaeda hideouts all week in a series of U.S.-supported airstrikes on the southern provinces of Lahj and Abyan . Three raids on Thursday killed 12 jihadists and destroyed large weapons caches near Jaar , in Abyan , with no losses among government forces , three security officials told CNN . Defense Ministry officials said the strikes are expected to last two more days . Meanwhile , the government has put thousands of troops into the effort to flush out the al Qaeda fighters and tighten security in the surrounding areas , the officials said . The Defense Ministry announced today that the militants are losing ground and casualties in their lines are high . On Tuesday security officials said at least 38 militants had been killed in 48 hours of continuous airstrikes , three of which had unspecified U.S. involvement . The strikes forced them to evacuate some of their hideouts , but the jihadists remained in control of key towns linking both provinces at that time , the officials said . The offensive comes after militants killed dozens of troops and seized large quantities of weapons when it raided a military zone earlier this week . Numerous other Yemeni soldiers are still being held hostage by militants since the attacks , two officials confirmed . Yemen 's al Qaeda movement has expanded its control over parts of the country in the past year , leading politicians to consider the option of dialogue with the militant network . Sheikh Sadeq Ahmar , head of the country 's most powerful Hashed tribe , said Monday that he supports talks with the jihadists . And in March , Ali Obaid , the spokesman for the country 's highest security authority , told CNN that Yemen 's military committee welcomed dialogue with al Qaeda if they accept specific terms , lay down their arms and hand over territory under their control .
New airstrikes kill 12 jihadists in Abyan province , Yemeni officials say . Saudi warplanes have been bombing al Qaeda targets all day . The fighting will continue at least two more weeks , they say .