Security Source: “STC Forces” Sold First Military Region Weapons to Al-Qaeda Elements in Hadramawt
Yemen Monitor / Seiyun / Exclusive:
A senior security official revealed to Yemen Monitor on Sunday that large quantities of medium and heavy weapons and ammunition were leaked and sold to Al-Qaeda elements in Wadi Hadramawt (eastern Yemen).
The official confirmed that the sales were carried out by forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) following their military takeover of the First Military Region’s camps last week.
The source — who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of his position — said that the STC’s sweep through areas of Wadi Hadramawt resulted in widespread looting of the First Military Region’s depots.
He added that STC members looted the warehouses and then openly offered the contents for sale in the area. Cells of Al-Qaeda, which maintains active pockets in Hadramawt’s rugged valleys and mountains, reportedly purchased these weapons.
Regarding the nature of the leaked materiel, the source said it was not limited to light arms but included “various medium and heavy weapons and large quantities of ammunition.” He did not provide further technical details about the models, raising concerns about the expanding capabilities of the extremist group in the oil-rich province.
Earlier, the Hadrami Elite Forces issued an official statement implicitly acknowledging serious violations. The leadership admitted that elements of the Hadrami Elite, a force affiliated with the STC that participated in and supported the Wadi takeover, were indeed involved in selling looted weapons and ammunition—an indication of the security breakdown accompanying the military operation.
