Yemen: Al-Dara Al-Watan Militants Dispatches To Hadhramaut

On February 19, the command center of the Saudi-led coalition ordered the deployment of Al-Dara al-Watan (Nation Shield) militants in the desert and Wadi Hadhramaut (Hadhramaut Valley).

The first phase of enacting the order comprises the evacuation of the Southern Transitional Council militants from the northern regions of Hadhramaut Governorate and the withdrawal of military posts in the districts of Banin, Haru and Jathmah in the suburbs of Seiyun city, and the second phase is the deployment of Al-Dara al-Watan militants in that region under the command and supervision of Saudi military advisers.

The aforementioned militants have been formed by the armed tribes of Hadhramaut under the name of the 5th Brigade of Al-Dara al-Watan, whose commander is called Isa Bamomen.

Saudi Arabia’s objectives of such a plan can be summarized in two sections: One, the eviction of the Southern Transitional Council militants from the Hadhramaut Governorate; and second, the control of the oil fields in that governorate; so, all of the goals would lead to the decrease of the military power of the Southern Transitional Council in that region.

Following the capture of the positions of the Islah Party in Abyan Governorate, the STC tried to conquer the Hadhramaut Governorate and also advance its plan to divide southern Yemen via deploying its militants in the Al-Mukalla city; then, it intended to move towards the cities and oil fields in the center and north of Hadhramaut Governorate without any coordination with other players in that region, but the moves were faced with the Islah Party’s resistance in Seiyun and the Saudi Arabia’s rejection in the southern areas.

Read more: The New Al-Dara’ Al-Watan Brigade Was Formed In Southern Yemen