Pro-Islah Party forces surround main STC camps in Abyan

ABYAN, July 09 (YPA) – The central region of Abyan province, in southern Yemen, on Wednesday witnessed escalating armed tensions between factions loyal to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) and forces affiliated with the Islah Party, led by Sand al-Rahwa.

A local source in Lodar District explained that this came after the al-Rahwa forces, which arrived from the coastal city of Shoqra on Tuesday, established several armed checkpoints around the STC’s Security Belt camp in the al-Faydh area as part of their deployment plan in the district.

Meanwhile, STC leaders in Abyan sent military reinforcements to the al-Faydh camp to prevent the al-Rahwa forces from entrenching themselves nearby, in a clear attempt to contain sudden movements.

The source indicated that the al-Rahwa forces’ deployment is presumed to be in compliance with military and security instructions issued by the President of the Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, coinciding with the reopening of the “Aqabat Tharah” road to passenger traffic.affic.

It’s worth noting that the STC rejects any movement by the Islah-affiliated Abyan Axis forces, which had withdrawn to the city of Shoqra following violent clashes with STC forces in central Aden in August 2019.

YPA