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Reports Reveal Role of the First Military Region Forces in Hadhramaut in Smuggling Weapons and Drugs to the Houthis

REPORTS - منذ 11 يوم

EYN ALGNOUB

Northern forces in Hadhramaut’s Valley have turned the First Military Region into a hub for terrorism and smuggling of arms and drugs. At the forefront of this scene, the First Military Region, particularly the Abu Awja brigades, maintains control over the area, raising questions about their true objectives. Although nominally supportive of the Arab Coalition, credible reports indicate that these forces have become a dagger in the side of the coalition and southern forces, acting as an extension of Houthi agendas by engaging in covert operations, including arms and drug smuggling.

International Reports: Evidence of the First Military Region Force’s Involvement in Arms and Drug Trafficking

A recent international report revealed that units of the First Military Region, specifically Abu Awja Brigades, facilitate arms smuggling operations to the Houthis via clandestine routes in Hadhramaut’s Valley, positioning them as a critical link that fuels the conflict. According to the report, these brigades operate outside the coalition’s objectives, serving as a node in a vast smuggling network beginning from Al-Mahra, traversing the Shahn and Seiyun routes, then through Tarim and Seiyun again, ultimately leading to Al-Abr and Ma’rib, where the weapons are delivered to the Houthis.

Recent Incidents and Repeated Clashes with the Arab Coalition

In a recent incident, two Saudi soldiers were killed by an individual from one of the brigades under the First Military Region. This attack is part of a larger trend of clashes against the coalition, fueling suspicions about the northern forces’ role in the region, where these forces are increasingly seen as unreliable allies. According to observers, this incident is not isolated but part of a series of confrontations between coalition forces and units within the First Military Region, which are cooperating with the Houthis. Some analysts said that the incident may was a response to Saudi deployment of Watan Shield Forces along the Al-Abr road, disrupting smuggling routes to the Houthis.

Activities of the First Military Region and a Record of Violations

Local residents in Hadhramaut’s Valley suffer from escalating violations by the First Military Region Forces, including arbitrary arrests, security suppression, and forced displacement. Human rights organizations have documented cases of arbitrary detention and repression carried out by these brigades against protestors, particularly those who call for rejecting northern forces’ dominance in their province. According to other reports, there have been 37 documented incidents targeting civilians as of November 2024.

The First Military Region Forces’s Cooperation with the Houthis

Credible sources confirm that although stationed in a southern province, the First Military Region consists entirely of personnel from northern areas, especially from Houthi strongholds like Saada, followed by Amran. These forces pursue policies contrary to coalition objectives. Rather than fighting the Houthis, Abu Awja brigades exploit the smuggling route stretching from Al-Mahra through Shahn, Seiyun, and Al-Abr to facilitate arms transfers to Ma’rib. This route ensures the Houthis a steady supply of weapons and funding essential to sustain their campaign against the coalition and southern forces.

The Impact of the First Military Region Forces’s Presence on Security and Stability in Hadhramaut’s valley led to a marked deterioration in security in Hadhramaut’s Valley, where violent crimes and smuggling activities threaten local stability and perpetuate the conflict. Local officials indicate that these northern forces pose a persistent threat, while residents view themselves as victims of this conflict, facing daily risks from northern military units that have become a significant security burden.

Positions of the Coalition and Southern Forces Regarding the First Military Forces

The Arab Coalition has become increasingly aware of the risks posed by these military units in Hadhramaut’s Valley Some Saudi and Emirati officials have called for a reevaluation of troop deployments in this area, viewing northern forces as a destabilizing factor rather than an asset in the fight against the Houthis. Southern forces have urged taking over the responsibility of securing Hadhramaut’s valley & desert to curb Houthi influence and address security challenges such as terrorist groups pursuing agendas that destabilize southern and regional security.

With the growing evidence of collusion between the First Military Region forces and the Houthis, calls to expel these Houthi-affiliated forces from Hadhramaut’s Valley have intensified. It has become clear that the presence of forces unrepresentative of the Hadramout constitutes a long-term threat to the coalition, southern forces, and local residents alike.

In light of this pressing issue, enhancing the influence of Hadhrami Elite Forces and empowering them is essential to ensure loyalty among soldiers toward Hadhramaut’s security and stability. These northern forces should either be reassigned to battlefronts against the Houthis, or, if necessary, face legal and military measures for their expulsion.