Violent clashes broke out on Wednesday between Hadi loyalist forces and UAE-backed militias in Shabwah province, southern Yemen, in a move that could turn the province into an open area for confrontations.
According to local sources, the clashes took place in Nassab district, one of the main hotbeds of tension between Hadi’s factions and tribes affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The sources reported that the clashes broke out after a mortar attack targeted a military checkpoint of Hadi forces in the directorate.
They noted that Hadi loyalist forces pushed large reinforcements to the directorate, which had already witnessed fierce fighting between the two sides months ago.
Hadi’s forces are trying to storm the directorate’s center in order to arrest suspects, which the directorate’s tribes resist.
On Tuesday, armed clashes broke out between individuals wearing military and security uniforms at the Al-Kahraba point, at the western entrance of Ataq city, the capital of the province.
The sources explained that a faction of the Islah Party militias tried to prevent the so-called Director of Political Security in the province, Swailem Al-Hindus, from entering the city with his companions, which led to violent clashes between the two parties.
Although the STC and forces loyal to Hadi signed the Riyadh Agreement in 2019 and officially joined the new “power-sharing government” announced by Hadi earlier this month, tensions between the two forces remain high and escalate into armed conflict regularly.