Yemen’s Al Dhale’e Under Siege as Southern Resistance Battles UAE-Backed Forces
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni reported on Wednesday that the Southern Resistance, the primary military wing of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, has laid siege to Al Dhale’e. This development coincided with pursuit of Taher Al-Aqili, the Defense Minister of the government based in Aden. Sources from southern Yemen released footage of Emirati military vehicles moving through city streets, heavily armed individuals visible inside. The Southern Resistance reportedly blocked all entry and exit points to the city and issued an ultimatum to Taher Al-Aqili, a minister loyal to Saudi Arabia, who is currently besieged in the Bin Aboud military center, to surrender.
Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni further reported that in recent hours, Southern Resistance forces advanced towards Al Dhale’e from all southern villages and regions. This offensive occurred concurrently with the arrival of Taher Al-Aqili, the Defense Minister of the Riyadh-backed government in Aden. These elements attacked Al-Aqili’s convoy in the city center, resulting in casualties, injuries, and the arrest of his senior aides. The minister managed to escape and is reportedly hiding within a military facility inside the city.
The Yemeni media outlet stated that it remains unclear whether the Southern Resistance elements, acting as the military arm of the Southern Transitional Council, are preparing to storm the military facility and apprehend the minister, or if they will continue to maintain his siege until his surrender. Meanwhile, other Yemeni sources indicated that armed confrontations erupted in Al Dhale’e province earlier that afternoon. Reports suggest these clashes involved individuals from families of those killed in Hadhramaut and Al Dhale’e in January, along with their young supporters, targeting Taher Al-Aqili, the Defense Minister of Aden. Unofficial local sources reported that the minister had entered Al Dhale’e and visited the Aboud military camp. However, he reportedly left shortly after his arrival, following armed clashes between his security team and the families of those killed in January in Hadhramaut. These same sources confirmed that the minister’s hiding place remains unknown and that his aide and several bodyguards have been detained. Activists released videos depicting armed confrontations, damage to several military and security vehicles, and the burning of the minister’s vehicle. The situation across Al Dhale’e remains tense.
A military source reported on Wednesday that amidst the ongoing clashes in the southwestern Yemeni city of Al Dhale’e, a military vehicle escorting the convoy of Lieutenant General Taher Al-Aqili, the Defense Minister, was targeted, resulting in casualties. The source stated that armed individuals blocked roads at several entrances to Al Dhale’e and besieged the Defense Minister’s convoy during his visit to the province, before the situation escalated into armed confrontations. He added that a military vehicle attempting to clear the road for the minister’s convoy was hit, causing casualties, though the exact toll remains unconfirmed. According to these sources, the armed individuals are affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council and are calling for the return of the former Defense Minister, who is currently in Riyadh. A military source had previously reported the arrival of Lieutenant General Taher Al-Aqili, the Defense Minister of the Saudi-installed government in Aden, to Al Dhale’e province. This visit coincided with escalating security tensions and road closures in the city.
