Shabwa elite forces secure economic facilities

The Shabwa elite forces have graduated a new batch of soldiers who will help secure the province from al-Qaeda elements and protect its economic facilities, a military official told Al-Mashareq.

On August 7th, four days after the UAE-trained forces launched an assault on al-Qaeda in Shabwa, the group retreated from the oil-rich southern province with no major clashes.

"This week, 400 soldiers who have completed their military training will be deployed to the security belt's military checkpoints to protect economic facilities," said Shabwa elite forces commander Brig. Gen. Khalid al-Azmi.

The Shabwa elite forces will begin accepting recruits in September from Shabwa's central districts in order to consolidate security against al-Qaeda, he said.

"The new batch will include 1,000 recruits from the central districts of al-Rawdah, Mayfaa, Habban, Ataq, al-Said, Arma and Dom," he said.

Repairing economic facilities

The elite forces will play a major role in securing the economic facilities that were damaged by al-Qaeda, al-Azmi said.

The repair of the gas pipeline which was blown up by al-Qaeda elements last week was completed on Sunday (August 13th), he said.

Work is under way to rehabilitate the Balhaf facility and bring it back into service, he said, noting that maintenance work at the power plant that operates the facility will be completed this week.

"Shabwa is now enjoying security and stability after al-Qaeda elements were defeated following the deployment of the Shabwa elite forces to areas used by al-Qaeda as hideouts," he said.

This has paved the way for the rehabilitation of the province's vital facilities so they may resume work and production, he added.