Hadi’s forces take control of international line leading to Aden

ADEN, Jan. 1 (YPA) -The Saudi-backed forces (Hadi and al- Islah forces) have taken control over  the international line linking Shabwah and Aden provinces after violent clashes with the UAE-backed southern transitional council militias, military sources said on Wednesday .

According to the military sources, the forces of the 3rd Brigade presidential protection stationed in Al Mahfad District of Abyan, were able to advance towards the area of Al-Arm, located on the international line in Shabwah province, amid reports of the mass escape of the STC militants from it.

They confirmed that Hadi and al-Islah forces were able to open the highway in al-Arm, which was blocking the advance of reinforcements coming from the city of Ataq and the Haban district in Shabwah province, located next to Al Mahfad District

“Hadi” and al-Islah forces in Shabwah have joined forces with other forces stationed east of Abyan province, and with other forces to the border of Marib province.

According to the sources, “Hadi and al-Islah forces are engaged in heavy fighting with the last pockets of STC’s militias in Shabwah, which is seeking to advance towards the city of Aden, through the coastal road linking it to the coastal area of Shaqra in Abyan, amid the failure to implement the Riyadh Agreement.

Earlier in the day, the UAE’s Transitional Council announced the suspension of all committees involved in the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement in protest against the military escalation of Hadi’s forces and reform in Shabwah.

Hani Ben Brik, the vice-chairman of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, who is visiting European countries, vowed to take control of all southern provinces, saying his militias were not incapable of achieving this.

E.M