SANAA, Yemen (Transatlantic Today) — After almost a week of brutal fighting with their enemies, who were loyal to the globally recognized government, Yemeni forces supported by the United Arab Emirates took control of crucial southern gas and oil fields, tribal chiefs and authorities claimed Monday.
According to ABC NEWS, the fights were between the paramilitary police force called the Special Security Forces and the Shabwa Defense Forces and Giants Brigades, both supported by the UAE.
They began earlier this month after Shabwa military and police commanders were fired for allegedly harbouring anti-Emirati views and having connections to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood organisation. The action was approved by the internationally renowned government.
The seizing of the oil fields is likely to strengthen the control of southern forces supported by the UAE that aim to restore their own nation in Yemen’s southern region. Additionally, it might damage the larger coalition in Yemen that has been battling the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
Ataq, the province capital of Shabwa, was also captured a few days ago by militias backed by the Emiratis, according to oil and security sources. Due to their lack of authorization to speak to reporters, the officials talked on the terms of anonymity.
The Southern Transitional Council, which includes the UAE’s local allies the Shabwa Defense Forces and Giants Brigades, is a key component of the military alliance led by Saudi Arabia that has been battling the Houthis since 2015.
The council, which effectively governs the majority of southern Yemen, has advocated strongly for the country to be divided into two once more, as it was from 1967 to 1990.
The Houthis invaded Sanaa, the nation’s capital, in 2014, sparking the start of Yemen’s civil war and forcing the government to retreat to the nation’s and ultimately into exile in Saudi Arabia.
Early in 2015, an alliance led by Saudi Arabia—at the time supported by the US—entered the conflict to try to reinstall the government. Since then, Saudi Arabia and Iran, who are adversaries in the region and support the Houthis, have been engaged in a proxy war.
Yemen is now divided along political, tribal, and regional lines as a result of the war.
