Senior Yemeni Military Leader Killed in Car Bombing in Aden

Brigadier General Thabet Gawas. (Twitter)
Brigadier General Thabet Gawas. (Twitter)
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Senior Yemeni Military Leader Killed in Car Bombing in Aden

Brigadier General Thabet Gawas. (Twitter)
Brigadier General Thabet Gawas. (Twitter)

A car bombing killed a senior Yemeni military leader and three of his entourage in the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday, three security sources said.

The defense ministry confirmed that Brigadier General Thabet Gawas was killed in a "cowardly attack carried out by several terrorist elements" but provided no further details.

Gawas was returning from a personal visit when his car was hit by the blast in a suburb of the city, the security sources said. Aden's AIC Television showed footage of a car in flames.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Gawas had long been an enemy of the Iran-backed Houthi militias, fighting them in their northern stronghold of Saada even before the 2014 coup against the legitimate government.

In 2004, he led the first military operation against the Houthi rebellion that ended with the killing of the founder of the militias, Hussein Badreddine al-Houthi. The operation earned him the name "Vanquisher of the Houthis" among several Yemenis.

He participated in operations that expelled the Houthis from the southern Lahj region in 2015. President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi named him commander of that region, a position he held until his assassination.

Security sources said terrorists had been monitoring his movement since his arrival in Aden earlier on Wednesday. He was on a personal visit and after departing, his vehicle was blown up. Two other cars were damaged in the attack.

Yemeni sources compared the bombing to the assassinations carried out by the Hezbollah party in Lebanon that is also backed by Iran and that has extended its expertise to the Houthis.

The defense ministry and the head of the Southern Transitional Council each issued statements mourning Gawas.

The Houthis did not hide their glee at Gawas' assassination with social media posts celebrating his death.

Supporters of the legitimate forces tweeted their sadness and condolences, describing Gawas as an extraordinary figure and hero, adding that they were not surprised with the Houthis' rejoicing of his death.



Israel Seeks to Maintain Areas of Control and Influence in Syrian Territory

Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
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Israel Seeks to Maintain Areas of Control and Influence in Syrian Territory

Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)

Israel plans to maintain areas of “control” (occupation) and “influence” (intelligence) in Syrian territory, according to a new operational concept that security officials developed for the new reality in Syria that emerged following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Senior officials in Israel said that the country would need to maintain a 15 km operational perimeter within Syrian territory, where the Israeli army would maintain a presence to ensure that allies of the new regime couldn’t launch missiles toward the Golan Heights, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
They also noted the necessity of a “sphere of influence” extending 60 km into Syria, under Israeli intelligence control, to monitor and prevent potential threats from developing.
The new operational concept came a few days after Israeli officials confirmed that their forces will not withdraw from the border buffer zone and the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Last week, the Kan public broadcaster said in an unsourced report that the new Syrian leadership has asked the US to pressure Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone.
Israeli officials told Kan that they have received no official request on the matter, adding that the Israeli army’s presence at and across the border is necessary to protect its security.
Last month, just hours after factions of the Syrian opposition swept president Bashar al-Assad from power, Israel captured the buffer zone, which was created following the Yom Kippur War of 1967. They also seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
During a visit to Mount Hermon last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his troops would remain stationed inside Syria “until another arrangement can be found that guarantees Israel’s security.”
Also, Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks across Syria, saying the strikes were aimed at keeping military weapons away from extremists.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli official said that while Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's de facto leader, had sent messages to Israel claiming that his forces weren’t seeking conflict, Israel remained skeptical. “This might hold true for a year, two years, maybe even 10 or 20”, he said.
“But no one can guarantee that eventually, they won’t turn against us – and these are highly dangerous people. (Ahmed) Al-Sharaa’s current goal is to lift sanctions on Syria to bring in foreign funds. But in the long run, Israel must maintain a control zone and a sphere of influence in Syria,” the official said.
He also expressed hope that Israel would receive full backing against threats from Syria and Lebanon after the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
“In the meantime, we’ll have to remain there, ensuring a 15-km missile-free zone under our control, as well as a 60-km sphere of influence, to prevent threats from developing. We’re building an operational concept for this new reality,” he said.
Israel was also concerned about the potential entrenchment of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Syria, seemingly ignored by al-Sharaa, according to the newspaper.
“We won’t allow their establishment in Syria just as we prevented Iran’s foothold there,” the official said.
“We estimate that al-Sharaa prefers to keep them there so they can act against Israel, giving him plausible deniability,” he added.
These remarks came while Israeli officials were reportedly astounded by what they described as the West's “blindness” toward the regime of Ahmad al-Sharaa, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.