Aden (South24)

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) in South Yemen announced, on Saturday, the appointment of a prominent security official as head of the counter-terrorism unit.

"Major General Shaalal Ali Shai'i Hadi shall be appointed as the commander of the Counter-Terrorism Units," according to a decision, published by the STC official website.

The decision, issued by STC president, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, included "regulating the work of Counter-Terrorism units by internal regulations."

Until the end of 2019, Yusran Al-Maqtari headed the counter-terrorism unit in Aden, Abyan and Al Dhale'e.

The decision comes after Al-Qaeda (AQAP) escalated its attacks against the Security Belt forces (SBF) in Abyan.

Since last March, security belt checkpoints and headquarters have been attacked at least four times by AQAP militants. Al Qaeda has so far claimed responsibility for two of them

Read Also: A Loud Return: Why AQAP intensifying their operations in South Yemen?

Mid-May, AQAP published a film documenting their two bloody attacks executed against two Security Belt checkpoints in March which had led to the death of 9 soldiers and 4 civilians.

A previous report by "South24" revealed that twoAQAP militants, who participated in carrying out the attacks, were killed in a car accident on May 19 and they were in contact with parties from the pro-government forces in Abyan.

The government has not commented on these allegations. The STC is leading a struggle against extremist groups, which seek to re-establish their control over strategic areas in South.

These groups, including the Islah party, say they are fighting "separatists" who seek to divide Yemen, and the Houthis say they are fighting "Israel's agents."

Yemen has been in a civil war since 2015, after the Iranian-backed Houthis took control of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen to return the internationally recognized president Hadito Sana'a, but its efforts failed.

Tens of thousands of victims have been killed in this war, and Yemenis are suffering from "the worst humanitarian crise in the world," according to the United Nations.

- Photo: Local Media