Aden (South24) 

The Iranian-backed Houthi group launched a massive attack on the governorates of Shabwa and Abyan, after the group took control of the last strongholds of the Yemeni government in the neighboring governorate of Al-Bayda, in North Yemen.

The group's gunmen seized the villages of Al-Saadiyat, Al-Karaa, Al-Budaiya, and Al-Jawhara, which are areas in the Beihan district of Shabwa, today, according to a local source for "South24".

The source said that the progress of the Houthis was accelerating, and without real resistance from the pro-government forces, which left their positions and fled Ataq district.

Pictures, seen by South24, showed fighters believed to be Houthis walking on a main road in one of the towns of Beihan District.

In Laudar, Abyan, the "Thra Front" is witnessing continuous battles between the Houthis and the Southern resistance. The latter had announced a "public mobilization", calling on the tribes of the province to fight, on Wednesday.

General staff, Colonel Ahmed Aldmani from the Southern Al-Ajd Brigade was killed today during clashes on the border front separating Abyan and Al-Bayda.

The Houthis also bombed the camp of the government's 115th Infantry Brigade, in Laudar, today, with a ballistic missile. No information is available about casualties yet.

Today, Thursday, Saudi-led coalition fighters targeted a gathering of the group's fighters in the Dhi Naem district in Al-Bayda.

On Wednesday, STC President Major General Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, announced from Aden a "state of emergency and general mobilization" in South Yemen to rebel the group.

According to media outlet, military reinforcements were launched from Aden Governorate, to the areas of fighting with the Houthis, north of Abyan.

So far, there has been no comment from the Saudi-led coalition, or the Yemeni government in Riyadh, regarding Al-Zubaidi's announcement. Forces affiliated with the Yemeni government had recently withdrawn from the Al-Soma fronts in Al-Bayda, according to field sources. 

South24 Center for News and Analysis

Photo: Houthi fighters advancing in several areas in Beihan District, Shabwa Governorate, September 16, 2021 (activists)