SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- A Yemen security official says a car bomb exploded next to a military checkpoint in central Yemen, killing 11 soldiers.

The official said that the explosion took place in the town of Radda, some 100 miles south of the capital, Sanaa, and which is now believed to be a new stronghold of al-Qaida. The official said that one suicide bomber was inside the car, and the style of the attack was similar to that of al-Qaida.

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

During Yemen's 2011 uprising, al-Qaida occupied large swaths of land and towns in the south before being driven out to mountainous areas.

Washington considers al-Qaida in Yemen the terror group's most dangerous branch.