New offensive against terrorist organizations in Yemen
Following a successful military operation in Hadramaut, eastern Yemen, targeting three terrorist organizations—the Houthis, Al Qaeda, and the Muslim Brotherhood— the Southern Armed Forces have once again launched “Operation Decisive” in the province of Abyan, with the aim of continuing to eradicate terrorism and reinforce security and stability in a strategic area from an oil and trade perspective in the Middle East.
The operation in Abyan has multiple meanings, including the deployment of unified southern forces in strategic areas of southern and eastern Yemen, dealing a decisive blow to terrorist organizations in a key enclave on the world trade map.
In recent times, the forces of the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen have fought against armed tribal and terrorist groups seeking mainly to control oil fields and carry out looting and roadblocks, in contrast to the broad stability achieved in the region in recent years.
Since 2016, southern forces affiliated with the Council have managed to confront the Al Qaeda terrorist organization and thwart attempts by Houthi militias to execute Iran's plan to divide Yemen, as well as prevent efforts by the Muslim Brotherhood and its armed wings to expand into strategic areas in the south of the country.
The Southern Transitional Council is a key ally of Yemen's internationally recognized legitimate government in the southern regions, within a national partnership whose main objectives include confronting the Houthis—Iran's arm in Yemen—and the Muslim Brotherhood, who do not hesitate to ally themselves with the terrorist organization Al Qaeda to achieve their interests.
Multiple threats
This vision coincides in objectives and timing with a clear US interest in eradicating extremism in the Middle East.In this regard, the US Embassy in Yemen stated in a post on the “X” platform that US Ambassador Steven Fagin discussed with the president of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, on the ongoing importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing threats to the national security of both the United States and Yemen and the region, including threats from the Houthis and the Al Qaeda and Islamic State (Daesh) organizations.
This meeting coincides with the announcement by the official spokesman for the Southern Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed al-Naqib, of the start of “Operation Decisive” in the Yemeni province of Abyan, pledging that it will be conclusive against the remaining pockets and cells of terrorist organizations.
This is a solid military plan supported by the forces of the Southern Transitional Council to clean up the province of Abyan, considered the most attacked by terrorist groups, which has required firm action to secure it completely, cut off supply lines, and prevent the relocation of these elements.