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Yemen: Little Progress in Abyan’s Battles

Caption: A tank belonging to forces loyal to Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists during clashes with pro-government forces for control of Zinjibar [Nabil Hasan/AFP]
Caption: A tank belonging to forces loyal to Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists during clashes with pro-government forces for control of Zinjibar [Nabil Hasan/AFP]
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Yemen: Little Progress in Abyan’s Battles

Caption: A tank belonging to forces loyal to Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists during clashes with pro-government forces for control of Zinjibar [Nabil Hasan/AFP]
Caption: A tank belonging to forces loyal to Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists during clashes with pro-government forces for control of Zinjibar [Nabil Hasan/AFP]

Following heavy battles between Yemen’s pro-government forces and Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists in Abyan governorate, there has been no military progress on both sides.

Confrontations, in which the two sides exchanged missiles Sunday, were mainly concentrated on two fronts - the village of Sheikh Salem that leads to Zinjibar and al-Tariya, from where Yemeni legitimate forces are trying to advance towards Jaar, Abyan’s second largest city.

Both sides kept silence on the number of soldiers killed and the size of inflicted damages since early last week.

Observers said the fighting left several casualties on both sides. However, no exact number could be revealed due to the ongoing battles.

A balanced military strength has made it difficult for any part to win the Abyan battle.

The STC declared about three weeks ago a state of emergency in areas falling under its control. On May 11, government troops launched an offensive to expel the separatists from southern provinces including the port city of Aden.

Pro-STC observers said the separatists brought on Sunday military reinforcements from Aden and Lahj to advance against government forces.

On Saturday, the STC said it had captured Brig. Saif Al-Qufaish, the commander of Brigade 115 in Abyan. The next day, pro-government forces said they detained STC commander Anis al-Sabhi along with seven of his associates near al-Tariya area.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s Information Minister Muamer al-Iryani warned Sunday of the serious consequences of the declaration of the so-called "self-administration of the south" by the STC.

He told the Saba news agency that the separatists’ reckless move is creating an ideal environment for terrorist activities and weapons smuggling in Yemen’s southern coast, namely the smuggling of Iranian arms to Houthi militias.

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US Condemns Continued Houthi Detention of International Staff

A number of European Union ambassadors during their meeting with the Chairman of the Yemeni Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, on a previous visit to Aden (Saba)
A number of European Union ambassadors during their meeting with the Chairman of the Yemeni Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, on a previous visit to Aden (Saba)
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US Condemns Continued Houthi Detention of International Staff

A number of European Union ambassadors during their meeting with the Chairman of the Yemeni Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, on a previous visit to Aden (Saba)
A number of European Union ambassadors during their meeting with the Chairman of the Yemeni Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, on a previous visit to Aden (Saba)

US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin has condemned the continued detention by the Houthis of employees from the UN, non-governmental organizations and diplomatic missions.

Fagin issued a statement Friday on the 90th day in Houthi detention for the innocent employees.

“Today marks the 90th day in Houthi detention for innocent employees of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions; and more than 1,000 days of unlawful detention at the hands of this same terrorist group for twelve current and former employees of the US Mission to Yemen,” he said.

“That the Houthis have committed these extreme actions against fellow Yemenis is profoundly shortsighted, callous, and inhumane,” the statement added.

The Ambassador said that “Houthis have ripped people from their families and their homes based on fanciful and absurd accusations that are not in line with the real lives these people were living – that of commitment to family, to Yemen, and its future.”

He added that Houthi “actions also may exacerbate the suffering of Yemenis living under Houthi control, by jeopardizing critical humanitarian assistance.”

“We will not rest until our Yemeni colleagues are safely returned to their families, and we call on the Houthis to release all detainees immediately.”

The Houthi militias have, since early June, arrested and forcibly disappeared dozens of people, including at least 13 UN staff and many employees of nongovernmental organizations operating in their controlled territories.

The militia has expanded its campaign to include more than 70 employees of international and local organizations in areas under its control in northern and western Yemen, and has accused them of spying for foreign parties.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani has condemned the Houthis’ use of torture to extract confessions from staff working for the UN and international organizations.

He said such practices are due to the international community's leniency towards the violations committed by the Iranian-backed group.

The European Union Heads of Mission to Yemen have also expressed deep concern over the Houthis’ detention and disappearance for over three months of dozens of staff working for the UN, international and local organizations, calling for their unconditional release.