Yemen: Yemen state TV is reporting that the country’s president has named a new commander to head the US-trained special forces leading the fight against Al Qaida-linked militants.

The television report on Monday said President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi replaced the current head of the special forces with the commander of the military police Maj. Gen. Megali Ahmad Majdiya. Hadi also appointed a new chief of staff for the special forces. The outgoing commander of the special forces was appointed to the military operations unit in the Defence Ministry.

The special forces are at the forefront of Yemen’s fight against the local branch of Al Qaida, considered by Washington to be the most active in the world. Washington has been aiding the Yemeni government.