Saudi-aligned leaders sell Tareq Saleh factions’ arms to armed groups in Africa

ADEN, Sept. 20 (YPA) – Saudi-aligned leaders have moved to strip Tareq Saleh-affiliated factions of their military equipment and personal weapons, a week after the factions withdrew to Khor Amira in Al-Mudharabah district, western Lahj province.

Sources familiar with the matter said Salafist commander Hamdi Shukri, appointed by Saudi Arabia to head the so-called Fourth Military Region, ordered the confiscation of all weapons held by Tareq Saleh-affiliated personnel, including personal firearms, following Saudi recommendations.

The sources added that Shukri and his field aides directly oversaw the disarmament operation, adding that Saudi-backed leaders of the Al-Amaliqa Brigades and Dera al-Watan forces had turned into brokers, collecting and purchasing light and medium weapons from some of the withdrawing fighters at low prices.

They added that large quantities of weapons were gathered at several homes and transported by sea at night to armed groups in the Horn of Africa in recent days.

The sources said sharp disputes between Al-Amaliqa Brigades and Dera al-Watan forces leaders over the division of financial proceeds and gains also disrupted a major smuggling deal and led to the return of a large shipment of weapons that had already left the coast of Al-Mudharabah.

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