STC loses Crater district, military reinforcements approach Aden’s entrances
ADEN, March 22 (YPA) – Gunmen loyal to al-Islah party militias took full control of the Crater district in the southern of port city of Aden, military sources said on Saturday.
According to military sources in the city, dissident gunmen from the UAE-backed southern transitional Council (STC), led by “Imam al-Nawbi bian”, commander of the so-called 5th Brigade support, have imposed full control of Crater district, after violent clashes over the past two days, with elements of the STC militias.
The sources confirmed that seven UAE-backed militias were killed and others injured, following attacks by al- Nawba gunmen on the STC’s points surrounding Ma’ashiq Palace.
The sources added that the fighting expanded towards Mansoura and Khor Makser districts, and a state of military alert at the entrances to the city of Aden, in conjunction with the al-Islah militants marching towards the city.
Moreover, the sources said that the STC militias of the ” Thunderbolt Brigade”, led by Fawaz al-Safi, attacked ” the camp 20″ located in Crater district, in a bid to arrest the leader Imam al-Nawba .
Furthermore, the sources pointed to the attack on the camp, which came against the background receiving recruits trained in Saudi Arabia, which took sides in its class, after it was raided by huge money.
According to political sources, the leadership of the Saudi forces present in Aden, on Friday sent a telegram to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, telling that the STC is not to abide by the terms of the Riyadh Agreement signed between the “Hadi government” and the pro-UAE southern transitional in November 2019.
Military observers considered Saudi Arabia’s talk about the STC’s non-compliance with the “Riyadh Agreement” as a political evasion, gives the green light to Islah militants to invade Aden.
The Islah party carried out a military exercise in the desert of the coastal city of Shaqra in Abyan province in mid-week in preparation for confronting the STC militias.
The maneuver followed the arrival of prominent military leaders from the Saudi capital Riyadh, in the city of Shaqra, including Sanad al-Rahwa, commander of the “1st Brigade of Presidential Protection” charged with protecting the Ma’ashiq Palace, as well as military reinforcements from Marib, Shabwah and Hadramout provinces to the city.
E.M