YEMEN Press Agency

STC’s militia imposes curfew in al-Mahfad district, Abyan

ABYAN, Nov. 02 (YPA) – The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s militia on Tuesday pushed military reinforcements into Abyan province, and declared a state of emergency in al-Mahfad district.

Local sources familiar with the issue said that the STC militia brought a military force to the al-Mahfad district near Shabwa to complete the so-called “Siham al-Sharq” operation, which aimed to clear those areas of Islah militants and al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

The STC’s leadership has imposed a curfew in al-Mahfad, and prevented on movement of citizens and motorcycles on the international road and the directorate’s branch roads from 08: 30 pm o’clock on Tuesday evening until 05:00 in the morning, the sources said.

The Security Belt militia warned citizens not to leave their homes and UAE-backed militia only allowed emergency cases through the militia’s operations, in a move to wage a genocidal war against the people, according to warnings by activists on social media.

Pro-STC activists said that the militia is moving to launch military operations to clear the al-Mahfad from the pockets of al-Qaeda and Islah militants up to Shabwa in the east, and heading towards the Hadramout.

This comes after military vehicles belonging to the STC were suddenly ambushed with improvised explosive devices in the area of al-Mahfad, the latest of which was on Monday, which injured three members of the STC in Wadi Hamra.

E.M