Elite forces bring Brotherhood project down in Yemen’s Shabwah

Ali Rajab

The Muslim Brotherhood project is moving further off from southern Yemen, especially after the success of elite forces in Shabwah in controlling the strategic, oil-rich city of Azzan.

The militia of Islah Party in Ar Rawdah District is becoming more confused. A large number of the members of this militia are escaping to Ma’rib province.

Elite forces

The Shabwah elite forces were able to take control of the city of Azzan in Mayfa’a District, after the expulsion of the Brotherhood terrorist militia.

Sources at the Transitional Council told The Reference that the forces had controlled Azzan, the second largest city in Shabwah, following six hours of fighting.

The members of the militia, they added, escaped from the city.

The elite forces also succeeded in securing the road between the port town of Balhaf and Azzan.

The sources pointed out that the Shabwah elite forces are close to controlling Ar Rawdah District near Azzan.

Brotherhood on alert

Shabwah tribes rose up against the presence of the Islah militia in their province.

The militia in Ataq city is in a state of alert after the Shabwah elite forces took control of Azzan district, according to Yemeni sources.

They added that Brotherhood military convoys from Marib were attacked and ambushed along roads leading to the city of Ataq.

Other reform forces were ambushed in Khadera, a city of Abyan province. A third ambush took place in Al-Aram area in Habban District, the sources said.

There have been rapid breakdowns within the Islah militia, after the Security Belt forces took control of a number of cities in the southern provinces.

Videos also showed a mass flight of Islah militias from liberated cities and areas.

Reaction

For his part, Vice-President of the Transitional Council Hani bin Breek, said the control of elite forces on Azzan showed that the people of shabwah can never accept the presence of invaders in their cities.

“The Saudi-Emirati coalition is steadfast, persistent and resilient,” bin Breek said.

“This has changed the face of the region and angered all the enemies of the Arabs, namely Iran, Turkey, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Qatari regime,” he added.