Developments in Wadi Hadramawt: Final Units of the First Military Region Withdraw from Al-Abr to Marib Under Agreement with “National Shield”
Yemen Monitor – Hadramawt – Exclusive:
Forces of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade—one of the last remaining units of the First Military Region stationed in Al-Abr district, north of Wadi Hadramawt in eastern Yemen—have withdrawn to the Al-Ruwayk area in Marib province without any clashes.
Military sources told Yemen Monitor that negotiations took place between Brig. Gen. Abdullah Mu’azzab, commander of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade, and National Shield forces deployed in Al-Abr. The two sides reached an agreement allowing the brigade’s forces to pull back with their weapons and equipment to Al-Ruwayk, located in the far eastern part of Marib along the border with Hadramawt.
According to the sources, National Shield units have now taken over the brigade’s headquarters and military checkpoints. The sources denied any clashes between the brigade and forces of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) or the National Shield.
They added, however, that clashes did occur between the 23rd Mechanized Brigade and tribal gunmen who attempted to attack the brigade’s command headquarters. The confrontation left several dead and wounded, most of them from the tribal attackers.
The sources further reported that STC forces have reached Al-Wahd area, located between Al-Abr and Seiyun, while National Shield units have taken control of the 37th Armored Brigade in the Al-Khasha’ area of Wadi Hadramawt.
