A New AQAP Attack against Security Belt Forces in South Yemen, Official

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) launched an armed attack on Monday dawn against the Southern Transitional Council's forces, the Southern Security Belt headquarter in Abyan province, South Yemen, according to a security official.

Southern Security Forces Spokesperson, Capt. Mohammed Alnaqib stated on Twitter that "Security Belt forces responded on Monday dawn to an attack carried out by AQAP which targeted Security Belt headquarter in Lauder district, Abyan province," South Yemen.

"The attack did not result in any casualties," sayd Alnaqib. AQAP did not yet claim responsibility for the attack.

This is the third attack in less than two months by AQAP against southern security forces in Abyan, South Yemen. In mid-March of this year, AQAP had also claimed responsibility for an attack targeting a Security Belt checkpoint in Alwadee district, Abyan which resulted in the death of 12 people including 8 soldiers and 4 civilians. A week later, AQAP claimed responsibility for a similar attack targeting Security Belt forces in Ahwar city, Abyan which lead to the death of a soldier.

The Security Belt forces have been prominent in fighting terrorist organizations including AQAP and ISIS in South Yemen ever since they existed.

A previous US State Department report praised the role of these forces (the STC's forces), but also warned against retreating from their gains after the Shabwani Elite Forces were pushed out from Shabwa governorate in August 2019.