Military leader defects from UAE-backed STC factions in Shabwa

MARIB, May 17 (YPA) – A military leader in the UAE-affiliated Southern Transitional Council (STC) factions has defected upon his arrival in the city of Marib, which is controlled by the Islah Party.

The military leader in the ranks of the STC factions in Shabwa province, Ali Hadi al-Masabi, appeared in a meeting with the commander of the “third region” affiliated with Islah, Mansour Thawaba, to discuss the so-called “unification of the armed factions in Marib, Shabwa, and Hadramout.”

Observers see that Saudi Arabia is seeking to push the Islah factions towards the oil-rich Shabwa during the next stage in response to the movements of the UAE-backed factions in Hadramout and Mahra provinces in eastern Yemen.

Last Monday, the Saudi commander of the “support and back brigades”, Sultan Al-Baqami, accompanied by the Chief of Defense Staff in the government loyal to the Saudi-led coalition, visited “Arin” camp in the Armaa area.

YPA