Islah Party militia refuses to yield to Southern Yemeni separatist threats

Islah Party militia refuses to yield to Southern Yemeni separatist threats

First Military Region Command, which is affiliated with Islah military leader Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, on Sunday categorically rejected threats of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s to target its forces in Hadhramaut province.

This came hours after STC-affiliated media outlets reported that members of the First Military Region in Seiyun had withdrawn to an unknown destination.

Chief of operations of the first military command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Abu Awja’a, said in a press statement to the Belgees TV: “ In the event of exaggerated escalation by the STC, who we unfortunately consider one of components of legitimacy, the forces of the region will be stop them and will not allow them to mess up with public and private property.”

There is no clause in the Riyadh Agreement that stipulates the removal of his forces from Hadhramaut. So, the forces will not leave the region except by a presidential decision.

For more than two months, militias affiliated with the UAE-backed STC have been stepping up in Hadhramaut province to remove recruits from the first military region from the city of Seiyun.