Two people killed in Wadi Ubaidah clashes

MARIB, Sept. 18 (YPA) – Two people were killed on Thursday during clashes that erupted in the Al-Hazma Junction area of Wadi Ubaida, east of Marib city, amid rising tensions between tribal gunmen and security forces, according to local sources.

The sources told the Yemeni Press Agency that members of the so-called Road Security Forces affiliated with the Islah Party shelled villages belonging to the Al-Ma‘ili tribe, killing Saeed bin Ali Jarfan Al-Ubeidi and Hassan bin Abdullah bin Hassan Ma‘ili during the clashes.

Other sources said the clashes stemmed from disputes over the establishment of a security checkpoint in the Al-Hazma area of Wadi Ubaidah in Marib, northeastern Yemen.

The sources added that the deaths of Al-Ubeidi and bin Ma‘ili led to an expansion of the clashes and heightened tensions among the tribal parties, with tribes from Murad joining the fighting in support of the bin Ma‘ili tribe, amid fears that clashes could resume and spread further.

According to local accounts, the area witnessed heavy fighting involving various types of heavy weapons, while other sources reported additional casualties and injuries, with no independently verifiable final toll available so far.

The developments came amid ongoing security and tribal complications and attacks affecting numerous tribes in Marib since the oil- and gas-rich city fell under the control of Saudi-led coalition forces in October 2014.