Shabwa (Debriefer) A senior officer in the Southern Transitional Council-affiliated Shabwa Defense forces was killed on Saturday by friendly fire in the Yemeni southeastern governorate of Shabwa.
Personnel at a Giant Brigades-run checkpoint opened fire at a security commander of the 5th Brigade in Harshafan, west Ataq city, leaving Colonel Mafraj Mohamed al-Harthi with critical wounds, local official said.
The commander was taken to hospital, where he died of his wounds, the official added in remarks carried by the Sputnik International.
The security leader's bodyguard and cousin, Adel Salem, was also killed in the gunfire, which the Giant Brigades justified as "by mistake".
The incident comes three days after the oil-rich governorate saw three days of deadly clashes pitting units from Yemen's government army and security special forces against Giant Brigades and Shabwa Defense forces.
