Al-Dhalea (South24 Center)

One soldier from the Southern Armed Forces was killed and two others were wounded on Tuesday, February 3, in a drone attack carried out by the Houthi militias, according to a correspondent for the South24 Center, citing confirmed field sources.

The attack targeted military positions in the Batar area, northwest of Al-Dhalea governorate, the sources said. The drone struck troop deployment points within the sector as part of ongoing Houthi attacks along front-line positions.

In a separate incident, Southern forces stationed at the “Bab Ghalq” front thwarted an infiltration attempt by Houthi elements. Limited clashes ensued, ending with the attackers retreating after sustaining human and material losses.

On Monday, February 2, northeastern areas of Al-Dhalea witnessed confrontations following an assault by tribes from Juban district, backed by the Houthis. The attack targeted villages in the Bani Musallam area of Al-Shuaib district using mortar shells and medium artillery, resulting in injuries to a woman and damage to residential homes.

Local residents reported that Saudi reconnaissance and drone aircraft have been flying over several areas of Al-Dhalea for nearly a month.

Separately, the Southern Transitional Council in Al-Dhalea called on residents of the governorate on Tuesday to participate in a mass public gathering in the city of Radfan on Thursday, February 5, in support of the Southern Transitional Council and to reaffirm the independence of the State of the South.

In Lahj governorate, Southern forces announced the interception of a boat carrying 181 undocumented African migrants and three Yemeni sailors near the Bab al-Mandab Strait while en route to the shores of Shoqra in Abyan governorate. The forces said the operation was part of broader efforts to secure the coastline extending to the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The forces confirmed that operations to combat illegal migration and smuggling are ongoing, emphasizing that these efforts aim to strengthen regional security and curb unlawful maritime activities.

Taken together, these developments reflect the continued military and security tensions across several areas of South Yemen, amid intensified local efforts to confront escalating land-based and maritime threats.