Monday, Jun 11, 2012
Sana’a: Yemen troops and pro-government militiamen on Tuesday regained control of two strategic places and moved towards Al Qaida stronghold in Abyan.
The ministry of defence announced on Monday that government forces recaptured Bates area and an ammunition factory from Al Qaida militants. Local sources also said that at least 20 militants were killed in fierce fighting and the army advanced towards the city of Ja’ar for the first time since militants seized control of the town last year.
The government news agency Saba quoted the commander of the military Southern Areas, General Salem Ali Gatan, as saying that the army and the armed citizens drove the militants out of Bates and October 7 Munitions factory in Abyan and they are on their way towards the coastal town of Shougra. The general said the army regained two tanks and many ammunition stocks from the militants, adding that the army will shortly clear all districts of Abyan of Al Qaida militants.
Meanwhile, tribal mediation secured the release of Saudi citizen Nasser Abdul Aziz Al Mahiri, Saba news agency said. The Saudi man was set free on Sunday after six months in the custody of tribesmen in the north of Yemen. Saudi diplomat, Abdullah Al Khalidi, who was kidnapped in March by Al Qaida in the south, has not been released despite many similar mediations. The militants demanded the release of Saudi women from Saudi jails.
On May 12, the army launched a major offensive on Al Qaida militants who control many towns in the lawless southern province of Abyan. President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi vowed to defeat militants and refused to open any channel of communication with them.
Security chiefs who remained loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh surrendered to pressure and handed over Republican Guard’s 3rd Brigade in the capital to the newly-appointed commander Colonel Abdul Rahman Al Halili. The brigade is highly armed and responsible for guarding the capital. Local media sources said soldiers of the brigade on Sunday revolted against their commanders who hailed from the same birthplace of the former president.
Two months ago, Hadi carried out a major shake-up in which he purged many generals loyal to Saleh. Many of the dismissed generals defied Hadi’s decisions and refused to leave their offices.
By Saeed Al Batati Correspondent
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
