Coalition Committee in Shabwah Demands Governor Hand Over Camps and Facilities to “Nation’s Shield” Forces
Yemen Monitor / Shabwah / Exclusive:
A military committee from the Arab Coalition forces arrived in Shabwah Governorate on Monday afternoon, one day after similar committees arrived in Aden and Mokha, and following provocative statements by Governor Awadh bin Al-Wazir Al-Awlaqi.
Local sources told “Yemen Monitor” that the committee notified the Governor of Shabwah, Awadh Mohammed bin Al-Wazir, of decisions requiring the handover of Ataq Airport, the Murra military camp, and the Balhaf port to the “Nation’s Shield” (Dir’ al-Watan) forces and the Arab Coalition command.
The sources added that the committee informed the Governor of the commencement of integrating armed formations present in Shabwah into government forces and the dismantling of militias belonging to the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The committee’s arrival comes days after public statements by the Governor of Shabwah in which he claimed the governorate does not need the deployment of Nation’s Shield forces, suggesting that Aden and Hadramawt have a greater priority for such forces. He emphasized that any force arriving in Shabwah must operate under his direct supervision and in coordination with existing forces.
In an interview with the Saudi Al-Ekhbariya channel, the Governor stated that the security situation across all districts of Shabwah is stable and that there are no threats to public peace. He denied the existence of any secret prisons or facilities outside the framework of the Ministry of Interior, asserting that all detention procedures are carried out according to the law.
The Governor noted that the STC headquarters in Shabwah was closed voluntarily this evening. He pointed out that the governorate has a unique security status due to its extension along active frontlines with the Houthis in Harib, Markhah, and Beihan, where it faces constant drone and sniper attacks.
He affirmed that the Giants Brigade (Al-Amaliqa) and the Shabwah Defense forces are responsible for protecting the governorate and confronting Houthi militias, with full coordination between military and security units through a joint operations room under the directives of the governorate’s security committee.
Regarding the Balhaf facility, bin Al-Wazir described the situation there as “stable,” expressing hope for the full resumption of operations at the port and the gas facility in the coming period.
The Governor welcomed any government measures or forces operating within the framework of the local authority and its security committee. He simultaneously praised the Saudi role, expressing his confidence in the Kingdom’s efforts to ensure the success of the Southern Dialogue and to reach “fair” outcomes that serve the Southern cause and Yemen in general.
