Al Mukalla: Yemeni army has deployed a brigade in the district of Dowan to boost security and prevent Al Qaida terrorists from gaining a foothold in rural regions of southeastern province of Hadramout, local government officials and army commanders said on Thursday.
Hundreds of Al Qaida terrorists who fled their former strongholds in Southern Yemen are hiding in Shabwa and Abyan governates of Hadramout and plotting deadly attacks against military facilities.
Ahmad Bama’os, the director of Dowan district, told Gulf News that the army troops have been stationed on a key road that links the district with the neighbouring Shabwa governate. "The army soldiers are now patrolling Dowan and would soon set up permanent checkpoints in all areas of the district,” he said.
Thousands of UAE-trained forces recaptured the city of Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province, last year, inflicting a significant defeat on Al Qaida terrorists who held the city for more than a year.
Earlier his year, a number of Al Qaida terrorists trapped Yemeni army soldiers in Dowan district and blew up a police station.
Bama’os said that security has improved in Dowan after deployment of more troops, which also encouraged policemen to resume their duties. “People have stopped carrying guns and are enjoying peace in the district.” he said.
He said the army troops in Dowan are still on high alert to foil any attack by Al Qaida. Dowan valley is famous for producing internationally renowned honey.
Meanwhile, heavy clashes were reported on Thursday between government forces and Iran-backed Al Houthi rebels in several provinces in Yemen. The Ministry of Defence said that two Al Houthi rebels were killed and several others injured in clashes with government forces in Ouselan district in the southern province of Shabwa. The heaviest clashes were reported in Sana’a’s Nehim district where government troops seized control of a number of hilly positions in rugged mountains. The ministry’s official news site reported that fighter jets from the Saudi-led coalition carried out dozens of air sorties in Taiz, Nehim, Serwan and Hajja, hitting military camps controlled by the rebel forces. Large explosions rocked the capital Sana’a when coalition’s fighter jets bombed Al Nahden mountain and military camps where ballistic missiles are stored.
A massive air cover from the Saudi-led coalition has tilted the balance of the continuing war in favour of the internationally-recognised government and killed thousands of rebels across Yemen. Government forces are now battling the rebel movement inside Al Houthis’ heartland Saada
