STC militia take control over third district in Shabwah

SHABWAH, Jan.  03 (YPA) – Over the past few hours, Saudi-led coalition forces have continued to strip the Islah party of its military influence through enabling the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s militias   to taking control over the third directorate in Shabwah  province, eastern Yemen.

According to local sources, the militia “Elite Shabwani”, recently known as the “Shabwa Defense Force”, took control of the district of Jardan north of the city of Ataq, after the expulsion of “21st Brigade forces from al-Alam camp, which is taking the charge of protecting  the oil supply lines between production fields and the export port.

The sources confirmed that the militia “Shabwa Defense Force” seized the weapons stores in the Jardan camp following directives issued by  the commander of UAE forces in Shabwah “Saleh Majran al-Ameri.

The coalition toppled Islah- affiliated governor Bin Adio in mid-December, and appointed a new UAE-backed governor  Awad al-Awlaki, amid accusations of treason by Hadi.

The Shabwani elite militia returned to Ataq after the “special forces” of the Islah led by Abed Rabbo Lakaab al-Sharif were expelled following armed clashes between the two sides in August 2019.

The UAE is seeking to root out dozens of Islah Party officials in the province’s executive offices and replace them with a number of loyalists from Shabwah, Dhalea and Yafea.

E.M