Saudi commander blocks Shabwa intelligence chief from strategic camp

SHABWA, May 13 (YPA) – The leadership of the Saudi forces in Yemen’s Shabwa province has taken what local sources described as an unprecedented military insult against a senior commander in the UAE-backed Shabwa Defense Forces (SDF).

According to the sources, the commander of the Saudi forces in Ataq, Musleh Al-Otaibi, issued directives on Wednesday preventing Ali Ahmed Al-Khulaifi, head of intelligence for the SDF, from entering the strategic Marra camp, ordering his return from the camp’s main gate.

The sources said camp guards blocked Al-Khulaifi from entering and forced him to withdraw, in a move whose direct reasons have not yet been officially disclosed.

Al-Khulaifi had previously overseen intelligence duties inside the Marra camp before the withdrawal of Emirati forces from the province earlier this year.

Observers said the incident reflected the ongoing Saudi-led military restructuring in Shabwa following the takeover of key positions by the Saudi-backed Dera al-Watan and Emergency forces since mid-February.

AA