Saudi Arabia brought terror, devastation to Aden: Pro-UAE official

ADEN, Dec. 8 (YPA) – A military official loyal to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council on Sunday accused Saudi Arabia of sponsoring terrorism in the occupied province of Aden, southern Yemen.

Maher Abdulhakim al-Halemi, spokesman of Anad military base, in a Facebook post: “Saudi Arabia has brought terrorism to Aden, and when the UAE left Aden safety left with it.”

The terrorism and devastation has returned to Aden as a result of Saudi Arabia’s incompetence in managing the battle, contrary to what was the situation previously during the Emirati control, he added.

Al-Halemi’s remarks represent a dangerous development in the transitional council’s stance towards Saudi policy in the south, and confirm that the UAE allies fear the growing influence of Hadi’s government in Aden with Saudi support and facilitation.

Aden has witnessed unprecedented security chaos since the Emirati forces took control of the security scene in late 2015, and the security situation is still deteriorating even after Saudi forces received the security file in Aden.