Saudi-backed forces deployed in Hadhramaut after killing of their leader

HADHRAMAUT, Jan. 11 (YPA) – The areas of Wadi Hadhramaut on Monday have witnessed an unprecedented deployment of pro-Saudi military factions, hours after unidentified gunmen assassinated the most prominent al-Qaeda leaders in the region, Yemen News Portal reported, citing local sources.

According to the local sources, Saudi military pickups and armored vehicles arrived in the city of Al Hawta and clashed with “unknown” gunmen in the city.

The deployment came just hours after Qaboos bin Talib, a leader of al-Islah. He is leading a al-Qaeda network in the Hadhramaut Valley, was killed by unknown gunmen.

The motivations for the killing of Bin Talib, who was under Saudi protection, was not clear, but indicate that the incident is part of a conflict between coalition-backed extremist groups.

The killing of Bin Talib coincided with the continuing differences between ISIS, whose leaders receive support from the United Arab Emirates and Islah militants backed by Saudi Arabia .

E.M