SANAA, Yemen—A Yemeni military official says an airstrike on a vehicle carrying al-Qaida militants has killed three in south Yemen.

The official said Tuesday the airstrike near Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province, was one in a series of air raids on al-Qaida hideouts in the southern province where the militant groups have found a safe haven.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

For several weeks, government troops have been waging an offensive against the militants, who have taken advantage of political turmoil in Yemen to expand their presence in the south.

Also Tuesday, al-Qaida-linked militants attacked military vehicles carrying soldiers and a French oil expert. One soldier was killed, and the French expert was wounded.