Tribal sheikh killed in Lahj amid alarming security breakdown

LAHJ, April 30 (YPA) – A tribal sheikh was shot dead by an armed man in the Al-Mudaraba district of Lahj province, an area under the control of pro-Saudi forces, in an incident that underscores ongoing security instability and the continued absence of effective state authority since 2016.

Local sources reported that Sheikh Abdo Mohammed Tahi Al-Jubaihi was killed on Wednesday in the Ras al-Ara area after being directly targeted by a gunman from the same tribe. The attack is believed to be linked to a longstanding tribal feud between the two sides.

According to the sources, the assailant opened fire on Al-Jubaihi, killing him instantly. The gunman reportedly justified the attack as retaliation for his father’s death, accusing the sheikh of involvement in the earlier incident.

The killing comes amid growing security disorder in Al-Mudaraba district, which overlooks the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well as in Aden and other southern governorates.

Sources added that the gunman later surrendered to local security authorities, while officials in the district have yet to issue any statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident.