“Nation Shield Forces” Officially Announce Takeover of 23rd Mechanized Brigade and Its Military Sites in Al-Abr
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Nation Shield Forces (Quwat Dir’ al-Watan) announced today that they have taken control of the headquarters of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade and its affiliated military sites in the Al-Abr district and its outskirts in Hadramowt governorate. This move is reportedly in implementation of official directives aimed at enhancing security and stability in vital areas of the governorate.
In a statement, the forces said that the handover was conducted according to precise and organized procedures to ensure a smooth transition of military tasks, in line with current efforts to de-escalate the situation in Hadramowt and reorganize the security and military landscape in the region.
The statement added that this step is part of a comprehensive plan to reorganize military units, secure international roads, and protect the interests of citizens in the Hadramowt Valley and Desert.
The forces also commended the Saudi support and its role in containing tensions, emphasizing the Kingdom’s standing alongside the people of Hadramowt and its backing of all efforts aimed at establishing consensus, peace, and stability.
Military sources had previously informed “Yemen Monitor” that negotiations took place in recent days between the Commander of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade, Brigadier General Abdullah Ma’azab, and the Nation Shield Forces stationed in Al-Abr. The talks concluded with an agreement for the brigade’s forces to withdraw with their weapons and equipment to the Al-Ruwaiq area, located east of Marib governorate and adjacent to Hadramowt.
The sources clarified that the Nation Shield Forces have indeed taken over the brigade’s headquarters and its military checkpoints, confirming that no clashes occurred between the brigade’s forces, the Nation Shield Forces, or the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces during the handover process.
However, the sources indicated that clashes did erupt between the 23rd Mechanized Brigade’s forces and tribal gunmen who attempted to attack the command headquarters, resulting in casualties—mostly among the gunmen.
The sources also mentioned that forces affiliated with the STC reached the Al-Wahad area, located between Al-Abr and Seiyun, while Nation Shield units seized the 37th Armored Brigade in the Al-Khash’a area of Hadramowt Valley, all within the context of the accelerating military movements witnessed in the eastern regions in recent days.
