Militants affiliated with Saudi-backed factions storm Sayoun airport in Hadramout

HADRAMOUT, June 24 (YPA) – Dozens of gunmen from the Saudi-backed “Emergency” factions, aboard approximately 20 military vehicles, stormed Sayoun Airport in Hadramout governorate on Wednesday, according to informed sources.

The incident caused panic among airport staff and passengers, amid an absence of any official clarification confirming the reports or disclosing the motives.

The storming is highly likely linked to ongoing armed tensions since early June between Saudi-backed factions in the city (the Salafist “Dera Al-Watan” and “Emergency”). This follows the latter’s defiance of a proposal by the Saudi forces command in Sayoun to leave the city and hand over all military checkpoints to “Dera Al-Watan.”

The move coincides with unprecedented security chaos and field escalation in the city, following a raid by the “Emergency” factions yesterday, Tuesday, into several citizens’ homes, which resulted in a civilian being wounded.

Concurrently, amid rising tensions and friction with the “dissolved” UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), wall graffiti has spread across Sayoun demanding the departure of Saudi forces and their loyal factions, and an end to the guardianship over the governorate.

YPA