Armed tribes prevent Saudi occupation forces to reach Mahrah’ Shihen border crossing 

MAHRAH, Aug. 23 (YPA) – Local sources in Mahrah confirmed that armed tribes in the province prevented the occupying Saudi forces from reaching a border crossing with Oman.

Saudi forces moved from al-Ghaydah Airport International Airport in the province, heading Mahrah’ Shihen border crossing  with Oman, the sources said.

The sources indicated that tribes oppose the Saudi military presence in the Mahrah, intercepted Saudi occupation forces before they arrived at the port, and forced them to return to their camp in the “Hat district” in the same province.

Saudi forces moved towards a “Shihen port” under the pretext of delivering a thermal screening device to be installed at the port, according to the sources.

Salem Balhaf, spokesman for the “Peaceful Sit-in Committee in Mahrah Province”, said that these Saudi moves in the province are part of the kingdom’s efforts to “occupy” Yemeni ports and control the Mahrah so that they can remain permanent.

“Smuggling propaganda used by Saudi Arabia has not convinced the local community nor the international community,” Balhaf said.

He added that the sit-in committee suspended its public activities against the Saudi presence in the province due to the Corona pandemic, but intends to resume it in the coming days, until the departure of the last Saudi soldier.

Since the end of 2017, Saudi Arabia has pushed its own forces and military and security mechanisms into Mahrah province, in what it says is to strengthen security, control and combat smuggling operations, according to the Saudi-led coalition remarks.

Mahrah has the longest coastline in Yemen with an estimated 560 km overlooking the Arabian Sea, and the province has al- Ghaydah International Airport, and two land ports with Oman are “Sirifat ” and “Shihen”, as well as the Port of Nishtun.

E.M