![Yemeni security forces inspect vehicles at a checkpoint in al-Mukalla, the capital of Yemen's south-eastern Hadramaut province, on July 19, 2016. [Abduljabbar Bajubair/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2017/08/23/9325-Yemen-Hadramaut-security-700_496.webp)
Hadramaut Valley’s local authorities have opened the door for locals to join the security forces as part of measures to boost security in the valley's districts, a Yemeni official told Al-Mashareq Wednesday (August 23rd).
These areas are witnessing increasing assassinations of army and security personnel, he said.
Suspected al-Qaeda gunmen on Tuesday assassinated Maj. Mohammed Ali al-Hossam of the intelligence unit of the 10th Brigade which is stationed in the fifth military district in al-Qatn, Hadramaut province.
He was shot dead as he was leaving a mosque in al-Qatn.
On August 14th, two unknown assailants on a motorcycle shot a soldier with the Hadramaut elite forces in Shabam, who later died from his wounds.
"The local authorities have opened the door for residents in Hadramaut Valley to join the security forces to limit security breaches," said Hadramaut deputy governor Abd al-Hadi al-Tamimi.
Assassinations targeting security personnel have been rampant due to the security vacuum, he told Al-Mashareq.
"Al-Qaeda is suspected to be behind these assassinations, although other groups may be involved as well," he said.
Local authorities are co-ordinating with the security agencies to improve the performance of security forces in order to counter the threat of al-Qaeda and other groups that aim to undermine security, he said.
