UAE’s militias storm several villages in Ataq

SHABWA, Sept. 10 (YPA) – Militias of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) backed by the UAE attacked and stormed on Saturday a number of areas and villages in the city of Ataq of Shabwa province.

Local sources said the STC-affiliated Shabwa Defense” and Giants militias launched a campaign targeting a number of villages loyal to the sheikhs of the Islah party in Al-Saeid district in the city, and imposed their control over the area of “Sha’ab Tafa, Mazhal and Mazhab.

The sources affirmed that the militias confiscated a number of light and medium weapons that were in the possession of the villages’ sons, under a pretext of belonging to terrorist groups.
The UAE’s militia took control of those villages and military sites that were affiliated with Islah in the district, after limited clashes, and set up military checkpoints on all roads leading to the area.

The sources said several sons of the district’s tribes were arrested on charges of terrorism and took them to Ataq prisons.

Earlier in the day, local activists circulated news that the UAE aircraft had launched a number of air raids on Al-Saeid district in the city, in support of the military campaign that emerged from Ataq.

This came after a military vehicle belonging to the UAE militia was targeted with an explosive device during the campaign’s exit to the district, which led to the killing of two militia recruits and the injury of three others, including the leader Mohammad Alawi Al-Abdali Al-Awlaki.

AA