Shabwa on high alert after 2 al-Qaeda attacks

Security belt forces in Shabwa's Rudum district have been placed on high alert following two al-Qaeda attacks on their soldiers and camps that killed and wounded dozens, a senior security official told Al-Mashareq.

Al-Qaeda launched two consecutive attacks on Sunday (July 16th) and Monday on the encampments of soldiers charged with protecting the Balhaf liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.

"The security belt forces have been put on high alert and have stepped up their security measures, including intelligence gathering on al-Qaeda cells," security belt forces commander Brig. Gen. Khaled al-Azmi told Al-Mashareq.

"The new security measures to combat al-Qaeda terrorists and saboteurs include requesting more personnel and military reinforcements, including weapons and other assets, as well as stepping up security measures at military checkpoints," he said.

Al-Qaeda on Monday targeted a security belt camp with a vehicle packed with explosives driven by a suicide bomber in Ein Bamabad, wounding six soldiers, he said.

"Although the soldiers confronted the vehicle and opened fire on the driver, it entered through the camp gate, hit the administration building, rolled over and exploded, causing a very strong blast," he said.

As for the other attack, al-Azmi said, al-Qaeda elements on Sunday targeted a gathering of the security belt personnel in Hard, Arma district, using machine guns.

An armed clash ensued, and six security belt personnel were killed.

The elite forces entered Rudum district and Balhaf in December after al-Qaeda elements, who were using Balhaf port for their operations, escaped from it.

"The security belt forces are targeted by the terrorist forces which are trying to undermine the security and stability of the area," al-Azmi said, urging residents to co-operate with the security forces for the public interest.