An Suspected AQAP’s Attack on Southern Forces in Dhale Left Casualties
SMA NEWS – DHALEA
At least two prominent counter-terrorism and Security Belt commanders were killed in Dhale province in South Yemen on Friday evening in armed clashes with elements believed to be affiliated with the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), according to a security source.
Eight militants believed to be affiliated with the AQAP were also shot dead by Security Belt forces during clashes at the Security Belt headquarters in Dhale, north of Aden, according to local media and activists.
A source told “South24” that “elements believed to be affiliated with the AQAP infiltrated on Friday evening from the border governorate of al-Bayda with the A Shu’ayb District, and were arrested in the city of Al-Awabel before a military force arrived and took them to al- Dhale and without verifying their identities.”
“Upon their arrival at the Security Belt headquarters in the city, the armed elements began firing at the security forces headquarters, resulting in deaths and injuries.” The source added.
Aden security official said that the Deputy Commander of Security Belt forces in Dhale, Walid al-Dami, as well as Colonel Mohamed al-Shubji, the Commander of the Southern Counter-terrorism Forces in Dhale were killed in the attack. Al-Sanami also talked about injuries during the clashes.
Witnesses told “South24” in Dhale that the armed clashes lasted about an hour.
The northern border areas with the Ash Shu’ayb District of Dhale are under Houthi control. Al-Qaida elements are deployed in areas such as Juban District, and El-Bayda that are geographically under the governorate of Al-Bayda.
