SANAA, Yemen — Yemeni security officials say a U.S. drone airstrike has killed two al-Qaida militants in a southern town.

They said one was a midlevel al-Qaida Yemeni operative who escaped a U.S. drone attack 10 years ago. The other was said to be a Jordanian.

The officials said Monday's airstrike on Radda in Bayda province also critically injured three militants.

The Yemeni militant, Abdel-Raouf Naseeb, escaped death in the first recorded drone attack in Yemen, on Nov. 3, 2002. That strike killed Abu Ali al-Harithi, suspected of masterminding the October 2000 attack against the USS Cole warship in a Yemen port.

A member of the Naseeb family confirmed his death to The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity fearing government reprisal.

The security officials also requested anonymity according to regulations.