Al-Qaeda escalates terrorist operations in Abyan as part of agreement with Houthis

Al-Qaeda terrorist organization has escalated its operations in the southern Yemeni province of Abyan, just days after Khabar Agency revealed a joint agreement between the Houthi and al-Qaeda terrorist organizations. The agreement aimed to create chaos and violence in five liberated Yemeni provinces, including Aden, Abyan, Taiz, Shabwa, and Dhalea, through planting explosive devices, targeting military and security leaders with assassinations, and carrying out bombings, among other acts.

Al-Qaeda operatives have carried out terrorist operations since the beginning of February in the southern Yemeni province of Abyan. This coincided with the launch of a military campaign by security forces against the organization members in one of the areas of the province. Security units were able to gain control over the largest Al-Qaeda camps in Mudia district.

Khabar Agency has monitored some terrorist activities by Al-Qaeda in the province of Abyan since the revelation of the joint agreement between the Houthis and Al-Qaeda regarding the infiltration of chaos, assassinations, and bombings into five liberated Yemeni provinces. Al-Qaeda operatives have executed an armed ambush against an officer in the presidential protection, planted an explosive device in front of a security headquarters, in addition to targeting a military vehicle.

Last Friday, al-Qaeda operatives carried out an armed ambush on the main road in the village of Amshaa in Abyan province. This resulted in the injury of an officer in the Third Presidential Protection Brigade, Lieutenant Abdullah Saleh Mansour, who sustained serious injuries in the ambush that targeted him after leaving the city of Lawdar. Mansour was initially treated at the Lawdar hospital before being transferred to the city of Ataq.

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 4th, local sources reported a powerful explosion caused by an explosive device planted by the al-Qaeda operatives in front of the gate of the security administration in Mudia district of Abyan province. This resulted in the death of the soldier Khaled Mohammed Saleh and the injury of two civilians: Ammar Mohammed bin Abdulmasoud and Saleh Hussein Al-Bahith. An ambulance was seen rushing to the site of the explosion and transporting all of them to Mudia General Hospital.

On Tuesday, February 6th, an explosive device targeted a military vehicle carrying a number of soldiers. The explosion occurred in Wadi Awamran in Mudia district of Abyan province and resulted in the death of war photographer Abdul Karim Al-Abadi and a number of soldiers, as well as injuries to others.

On the same day, Abyan Security Administration announced that its forces had gained control over a camp affiliated with al-Qaeda in Matar Valley, which extends through a mountainous chain to the Lahmar area in Mudia district.

Fierce battles lasted for three hours, during which war photographer Abdul Karim Al-Abadi was killed in an explosion caused by an explosive device. The administration stated that its forces managed to sweep the camp and dismantle more than 25 explosive devices, noting that the camp is one of the largest al-Qaeda camps in Abyan province.

Abyan province is still under threat from the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, which has intensified its terrorist operations in the province, especially after reaching an agreement with the terrorist Houthi group. This agreement resulted in the release of dozens of Al-Qaeda members who were imprisoned in Sanaa, as well as prisoner exchanges, the establishment of joint camps and meetings, and coordination between the two organizations, among other things.

The Houthis had confirmed their readiness to support elements of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda with explosive devices, landmines, and other weapons, as well as exchanging information between the two organizations. Khabar Agency had previously revealed several joint agreements between the two organizations, amid calls for security agencies to be vigilant in confronting the consequences of the danger posed by the Houthi and Al-Qaeda in the liberated provinces.