By Shukri Hussein

ADEN, Yemen

Unknown attackers on Thursday killed a senior police officer -- and a companion -- in Yemen’s southern Aden province, according to eyewitnesses.

Witnesses told Anadolu Agency that unidentified gunmen had opened fire on Police Colonel Fahmi al-Subaihi, head of the Bir Fadl police station, while the latter had been attempting to resolving a dispute over land in Aden’s western Bir Fadl district.

Al-Subaihi and a companion -- identified as Majed Saleh -- were both rushed to a nearby hospital, where they quickly succumbed to gunshot injuries.

In February, Hadi Rashid al-Shuaibi, deputy head of the same police station, was similarly killed by unknown assassins -- in the same area -- while attempting to break up an armed dispute over land.

Aden police have yet to comment on al-Shuaibi’s death and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

For the last three years, the city of Aden -- which currently serves as Yemen’s interim capital -- has seen sporadic attacks on security forces, judicial officials and religious figures.

Impoverished Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a massive air campaign in Yemen aimed at shoring up the country’s pro-Saudi government.