UNIPATH STAFF
Yemeni forces emerged victorious in a military operation to purge al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula from Abyan and Shabwa governorates in March 2018.
Operation Sweeping Torrent, backed by forces from the Arab Coalition, including Saudi and Emirati troops, also netted warehouses containing missiles, explosives, bullets and other ammunition.
The local commander, Col. Fahad Gharama, said Yemeni troops supported by United Arab Emirates fighter jets ousted al-Qaida fugitives from the mountains in Abyan’s Al Mahfad district, a former terrorist stronghold. The regional al-Qaida commander died in the attacks.
“We have cleaned Al Mahfad’s military camps, valleys, villages and mountains from al-Qaida,” Col. Gharama said.
Yemenis vowed to prevent the return of terrorists to this mountainous terrain that had long harbored terrorists and rebels.
“We have set up permanent checkpoints in the liberated areas, reinforced the old checkpoints with more Soldiers, and placed the Rapid Deployment Force on a high alert to thwart any counterattack by al-Qaida,” the colonel said.
On another front, Yemeni and Arab Coalition forces were also pressuring rebel Houthi forces near the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.