Yemen: Terrorist Houthi cell arrested in Shabwah
Security agencies in the governorate of Shabwah (south-eastern Yemen) yesterday dismantled a terrorist cell linked to Houthi militias that carried out terrorist operations last October.
The Houthi cell was preparing to carry out terrorist operations targeting high-ranking leaders in Shabwah province, including Governor Awad bin al-Wazir al-Awlaki, leaders from the Arab Coalition, the Shabwah Defense Forces, the Giants Brigades, and military and security leaders, the official Yemeni news agency Saba reported.
The Houthi cell planted two improvised explosive devices during October; The first one targeted a crew from the Giants Brigade’s task force in Ataq. The explosion wounded the crew driver and street vendors, as well as damaged citizens’ cars.
According to the statement, the cell members confessed to detonating another explosive device that was placed on the corner of the road on the Martyr Qatan Street, and targeted a group of the Martyr Qatan Brigade, with a former security director on board, and resulted in the death of his son and the injury of 3 others, as well as causing material damage to shops and homes of citizens. At the time, the security services were able to discover and dismantle a number of explosive devices.
The Houthi cell attempted to target the governor of Shabwah, Awad bin al-Wazir al-Awlaki, shortly after he confronted an armed rebellion by forces loyal to the Islah Party, which tried to turn him into a military coup. However, the Shabwah Defense Force and the “Forces of the Giants” intervened in a military operation that culminated in quickly and record-breaking control of the situation.
On Sunday, the head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, Main Abdelmalek, pledged to do whatever is necessary to protect the interests of Yemenis and the international community against what he called “any Houthi terrorist adventures”.
The Yemeni cabinet, meeting in the temporary capital of Aden last Wednesday, called on Yemen’s partners in the fight against terrorism, the world’s countries and the international community to classify Houthi militias as a terrorist organization, ban contacts with them and dry up their sources of funding.
On October 21, the Houthi group claimed a “minor warning strike” on an oil tanker at Dabba port in the eastern province of Hadramawt.
