Aden (Debriefer) - Attacks seen by the Yemeni southern governorate of Abyan against Security Belt personnel in the last few days were aimed to transform the area into a center of terrorism activity, the Emirati-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) said Wednesday.
By their attempts to seize military sites, the "Muslim Brothers' militias seek to tighten grip on Ahwar district, reach coastline, allow terrorists access to abroad support and change the area into an active center for terrorists," STC chairmanship said in a statement following a meeting.
On Monday, Khabr al-Maraqisha (an area near to Ahwar district) saw clashes pitting government special forces against STC gunmen who waited in ambush and killed Salah al-Ouban, brother of Abyan special forces' commander.
The STC statement condemned violations of ceasefire provided for in the Riyadh Agreement, calling on the Saudi-led coalition to "stop these violations and attacks targeting the southern forces and aimed to impose new reality on the ground."
It warned the official government forces against consequences of this escalation, which "will all make options open before the southern armed forces everywhere to protect their units and personnel."
The statement accused the government troops of coordinating with Houthi forces, noting that the STC forces "are prepared for any attempts to smuggle arms and people via sea or land to the south."
