UAE refuses to release Islah leader in al-Khokha

HODEIAH, Feb. 17 (YPA) – The UAE-funded Tariq Saleh’s forces refused on Wednesday to release a leader loyal of the Saudi-backed Islah Party in al-Khokha area of Hodeida province.

According to sources, those forces rejected a request provided by Hodeida governor Al-Hassan Taher, appointed by the Islah Party, to release the leader, Abdo Moati, a week after his abduction, threatening to imprison others.
The sources indicated that the gunmen belonging to the arrested leader of Islah waged clashed with Tariq forces in al-Khokha district, to be taken to the prison the last week.

Tariq Saleh, the son of the late Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, seeks to annex al-Khokha district to Mocha area, after being separated from Taiz Governorate, which reports published on Islah’s attempts to rehabilitate the port of the district in its favor, similar to Qena port in Shabwa.

Islah Party seeks to control cities and coastal areas located in the vicinity of Bab al-Mandab strait, especially in Tor al-Baha area of Lahj governorate.

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