Saudi forces remove several military leaders in Aden following missile strikes

ADEN, 0ct. 24 (YPA) – The Saudi military command in Riyadh has removed several of its military leaders stationed in Aden, southern Yemen, following a major failure exposed by precision missile strikes targeting its secret headquarters and military build-ups in the city.

Multiple political and military sources reported that the Saudi command had decided to strip adviser Falah Al-Shahrani of responsibility for the file on the restructuring and integration of military factions in the southern governorates, assigning the task instead to military official Fahd bin Ahmed Al-Subaie.

According to the sources, Al-Shahrani had failed to restructure and integrate factions affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, which Saudi Arabia dissolved in January, placing them under the command of Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi and his defense minister, Taher Al-Aqili.

The move followed the factions’ refusal to fight alongside Saudi forces outside the southern regions.

The sources said Al-Aqili opposed the continued existence of what he called “separatist factions” outside the framework of his ministry.

They added that he had submitted a list of new military appointments to lead those factions, particularly involving Salafi elements loyal to Al-Alimi.

In a related development, the Saudi military command removed its commander in Aden, Badr Salah Al-Jumaili Al-Harbi, appointing Mohammed Talal Al-Balawi as his successor. The decision reportedly followed a clear military and intelligence failure after Sanaa forces targeted sensitive, secret facilities and headquarters housing military operations rooms for Saudi and foreign commanders in Aden in recent weeks.

The sources noted that Al-Balawi had previously served as commander of the Saudi Joint Task Forces in Hadramout and Mahra provinces.