Over 20 commercial trucks detained at military checkpoint in Al-Abr for 3rd consecutive week

SANAA, Oct. 01 (YPA) – Saudi-backed forces continue to detain more than 20 commercial transport trucks at a military checkpoint along the Al-Abr road in Hadramout Governorate for over three consecutive weeks without providing any legal justification.

According to local activist Omar Mohammed Al-Dai’ah, “emergency” forces intercepted and seized the trucks—which were carrying plastic granules destined for a local factory—after they had entered through the Shahin border crossing with the Sultanate of Oman in Mahra Governorate in eastern Yemen. The detention comes despite the shipments having entered legally and cleared all required customs and border procedures prior to being cleared for transit.

The stranded drivers face severe living conditions along the desert highway. The incident has raised reports of disparate enforcement between border entry points, as similar shipments entering via the Al-Wade’ah border crossing with Saudi Arabia have reportedly been allowed to pass without hindrance.

Al-Dai’ah called on the leadership of the forces to promptly clarify the grounds for the detention and determine the status of the impounded cargo to alleviate the hardship endured by the drivers, who face extortion and illegal levies amid security instability and the absence of effective state authority in the region since 2016.

YPA