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Security Belt Forces in Abyan province's al-Mahfad district on Tuesday (May 7th) said they had dismantled two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that al-Qaeda had placed at an intersection.
The IEDs had been concealed with plastic bags and were connected to a cell phone so they could be detonated remotely.
"Our rapid response forces on Tuesday discovered the two IEDs at al-Khayala intersection, al-Habadh, west of al-Mahfad, as part of their combing and search operations," the Security Belt Forces, al-Mahfad sector, said in a statement.
"Several soldiers were dispatched to the area to search it, and during the operation, the two IEDs were discovered," the statement said.
"The two IEDs, covered by plastic bags to avoid attracting attention, were connected to a cell phone to be blown up by calling its number," it added.
The attempted attack appeared to have been targeting Security Belt Forces commanders and personnel, said al-Mahfad director-general Ahmed al-Rabie.
The UAE-backed Security Belt Forces have been carrying out military operations to drive al-Qaeda out of the district, he told Al-Mashareq.
"Security has significantly improved in the district thanks to the efforts of the Security Belt Forces," he noted, though there remains work to do.
Al-Rabie called on security forces to step up their searches in the area, and to raise the security alert level to counter the efforts of those who seek to undermine security and stability in the district.
He urged local residents to co-operate with the Security Belt Forces and report any suspicious movements.
