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Clashes with AQAP in Abyan Leave One Soldier Dead and Five Wounded

REPORTS - منذ 5 ساعات

Abyan || Southern Eye

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The Southern Armed Forces announced on Friday (Sep 5) the death of one soldier and injury to five others during military operations targeting AQAP positions east of Mudiyah district in Abyan governorate, as part of the ‘Arrows of the East’ operations. 

The Southern Shield media outlet reported that units from the Support and Reinforcement Brigades in Abyan axis and Security Belt Forces launched a major assault on mountainous areas used as strongholds by the terrorist organization. It said that the forces had seized several AQAP positions overlooking the main valleys and severed the supply routes used by militants.  

The statement added that AQAP elements fled toward the mountainous areas connecting Abyan and Al-Bayda governorates, emphasizing that the forces "are continuing their battle until eliminating the remaining terrorist pockets” from Abyan and rendering it completely secure. 

A military source had previously informed ‘South24 Center’ that the soldier was killed in a drone attack during a military unit's attempt to rescue a vehicle that had encountered an accident on the eastern road in Mudiyah district.  

The source confirmed that Southern forces responded rapidly with a military operation targeting positions believed to belong to AQAP elements in Wadi Rafdh and Al-Naseel areas within the same district.  

Abyan governorate has witnessed continuous counterterrorism operations by Southern forces since August 2022 under the "Arrows of the East" campaign. These operations have successfully driven AQAP elements from several traditional strongholds in Abyan and secured extensive areas of the governorate. 

 

Notably, AQAP developed new tactics in May 2024 by deploying drones for the first time in the region. Southern forces accuse Houthi militia of providing these capabilities to Al-Qaeda.  

Observers note that continued AQAP attacks reflect the organization's attempts to exhaust Southern forces and reestablish presence in remote mountains and valleys, leveraging rugged terrain and logistical support received from Houthi-controlled areas.