Al-Qaeda elements roam in Shabwa two days after entry of STC factions

SHABWA, Aug. 26 (YPA) –  Al-Qaeda organization members appeared openly in a number of areas in Shabwa province, in eastern Yemen, while the UAE-affiliated factions did not move a finger, local source reported on Saturday.

Al-Qaeda elements are spreading in the Habban district’s “Al-Arm and Qarn Al-Souda” areas, south of Ataq city, the center of the province, in view of the “Shabwa Defense” factions loyal to the UAE, according to the sources.

The terrorist elements came from Omran valley and Sabr areas in Modiya district in Abyan province, following the military campaign “Haws Swords” carried out by the factions affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) loyal to the UAE, the sources explained.

This comes after the STC factions stormed first districts of Shabwa from the west, in Al-Hatib district, as part of operations to control neighboring Abyan province, aiming to “combat terrorist groups.”

It is noteworthy that the Saudi-led coalition has provided Al-Qaeda with qualitative weapons during the past seven years and pushed them to fight against Sanaa forces on several fronts.

Al-Qaeda had obtained a shipment of drones in the Badarat area, west of the Al-Wadiah crossing, in mid-December of the year 2022.

Many observers believe that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are working to support terrorist groups in Yemen, with the aim of preparing the country for US intervention under the pretext of “fighting terrorism.”

YPA