Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Hadhrami Elite Forces, affiliated with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), acknowledged on Saturday the involvement of their personnel in serious violations within several camps of the First Military Region in the city of Seiyun after they stormed them.
In a statement, the forces confirmed that some soldiers and officers exploited the chaotic security situation and sold quantities of weapons and ammunition to civilians.
They stated that what they described as “irresponsible behavior” began to emerge from internal elements taking advantage of the withdrawal that accompanied the change of control in the city. They indicated that allowing civilians into military facilities or trafficking in weapons poses a broad threat that extends beyond the camps to affect the security of all of Hadramowt.
The Elite Forces warned that weapons leaving military sites could facilitate their access to extremist groups and might even be used in the future against the security and military units themselves, adding: “The weapons being leaked today may later be used to strike your camps and threaten your lives.”
They emphasized the necessity for strict adherence to military protection procedures, tightening control over ammunition depots, and prohibiting the entry of any person or entity into the sites without official authorization. They also called on all forces deployed in Hadramowt to shoulder their responsibilities in safeguarding the military institution and preventing any acts of sabotage or weapon leakage.
These warnings come amid the chaos witnessed in Seiyun during the days following the withdrawal of Yemeni Army units and the takeover of the First Region headquarters by STC and Elite Forces. This was accompanied by looting operations that targeted various weapons and equipment stored inside those sites.
Social media users circulated photos and clips showing armed elements and individuals transporting light and medium weapons out of the camps. Meanwhile, local residents reported the subsequent appearance of some of these items in markets and nearby areas.
