Al-Qaeda releases video footage of its operations against STC forces in Abyan
ABYAN, May 19 (YPA) – Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has released a video documenting its offensive against the Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s Security Belt forces in Yemen’s southern Abyan province, Yemen News Portal reported on Wednesday
The video, posted by al-Qaeda affiliated websites, showed Saudi al-Qaeda leader Khalid Batarfi promising to carry out more attacks against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) militias .
The video documented bloody operations carried out against the STC’s forces in Abyan.
On Tuesday, Al-Qaeda militants launched an armed attack at dawn against the Security Belt headquarter in Abyan province, according to a security official.
STC Spokesperson in Abyan, Captain Mohammed al-Naqib stated on Twitter that “Security Belt forces responded on Monday dawn to an attack carried out by AQAP which targeted Security Belt headquarters in Lauder district, Abyan province.”
The STC accused forces loyal to Hadi of bringing reinforcements in from al-Qaeda and ISIS to the area of Qarn Al-Kalasi.
“These reinforcements move under the cover of the so-called National Army loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood and use its weapons, mechanisms and military uniforms,” al-Naqib said in a post on his Facebook page.
“They are seeking to ignite a new round of war in their insistence on torpedoing the Riyadh Agreement,” he added.
The fight between al-Qaeda and the UAE-backed backed separatists of the STC marks one of the heaviest bouts of infighting between the two former allies in the war against Yemen. Originally, both al-Qaeda and the STC were allies, since both are serving the Saudi-led invasion of Yemen.
E.M