STC to pull one brigade from Dhalea province to reinforce its militias in Shabwah

DHALEA, Aug. 26 (YPA) – The Southern Transitional Council (STC), which backed by the UAE occupation forces, is preparing to withdraw one of its armed brigades from Dhalea province to the fronts in Shabwah province.

“The brigade is ready to move to Shabwah province in order to support the forces of the Shabwh Elite against Islah militias and the supporters of Ali Mohsen [al-Ahmar] that are coming from Ma’rib province,” Brigadier Yousef Al Hakam, the commander of the so-called “5th Thunderbolt Brigade” in Dhalea province, said.

“Today’s war in the north is about [the Hadi government wanting to] restore northern presence in the south, by trying to exploit the Riyadh dialogue and the transitional truce to strengthen their progress on the fronts,” he said.

He went on to describe northern Yemen as an “enemy”. “Betrayal has been one of the talents of the northern enemy for a long time,” he added.

“We are now making contacts and understandings with the leadership to allow movement towards Shabwah, and if it is approved, we will not hesitate because the battle is crucial and concerns the south in general,” he said.

The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Militias are engaged in fierce battles with Saudi-backed Islah party militias for control of Shabwah province, particularly in the provincial center of Ataq, amid reports of advances by the Islah militants.

E.M