Protester killed, others injured by Saudi-backed forces’ gunfire in Mukalla

MUKALLA, April 04 (YPA) – One protester was killed and others loyal to the “dissolved” Southern Transitional Council (STC) were injured on Saturday by gunfire from Saudi-backed “Dera Al-Watan” forces in the city of Mukalla, Hadramout governorate.

According to matching human rights and media sources, the Dera Al-Watan forces launched a crackdown using live ammunition and tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters.

The sources added that heavy gunfire was concentrated at the “Bin Azzoun Roundabout” and other main streets, resulting in the death of one protester and the injury of approximately 4 others with varying wounds, in addition to the abduction of several participants.

The Saudi-backed forces cordoned off protesters in various streets in an attempt to abort the demonstration, which was held to demand an end to what they described as “Saudi guardianship” over Hadramout and the South.

This escalation followed a plan executed early in the morning by the Dera Al-Watan forces, reinforced by tribal gunmen affiliated with the “Hadramout Tribes Alliance”, to block vital roads. The move aimed to obstruct STC supporters from Al-Shihr and other coastal districts from entering Mukalla.

YPA