Hadramout (South24 Center)

---

On Monday, May 12, the Hadhrami Elite Forces carried out a security operation targeting suspected Al-Qaeda hideouts in Wadi Araf, located in the Al-Shihr district of Hadramout governorate in South Yemen, according to a report by Dera AlGanoob, a media outlet affiliated with the Southern Armed Forces.

The operation followed intelligence inputs that revealed the presence of an active terrorist cell in the area. In response, the Hadrami Elite Forces launched a field operation that involved sweeping of the valley and the raiding of suspected locations. Additional reinforcements were dispatched to secure the area and prevent any attempt by militants to reposition.

According to the report, the operation is part of ongoing efforts to reinforce security and stability in Hadramout and to disrupt the activities of extremist groups operating in remote terrain.

No further details were provided regarding the results of the operation or any potential casualties.

Established in 2016 with Emirati support, the Hadrami Elite Forces are one of the most prominent local security units in South Yemen.

The force played a key role in expelling Al-Qaeda militants from the coastal city of Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout, in April 2016.

Weapons Seized enroute to Houthis

In a related development, Dera AlGanoob reported that the Coast Guard forces, in coordination with the US Navy, intercepted a smuggling vessel north of the Arabian Sea in an operation that took place outside Yemeni territorial waters.

The vessel was reportedly carrying highly explosive materials and weapon components believed to have originated from Iran and was destined for the Houthi militia. The smugglers were detained and transferred to the relevant authorities for investigation. The report did not disclose the date of the operation, or the exact types of weapons involved, nor the nationalities of the suspects.

132 Migrants Intercepted Off Lahij

In a separate incident, Dera AlGanoob reported that southern forces thwarted a human smuggling attempt off the coast of Ras Al-Arah in Lahij governorate, seizing a boat carrying 132 undocumented migrants from countries in the Horn of Africa.

Four smugglers aboard the vessel were apprehended and handed over to the relevant security authorities.

Earlier this month, on May 4, Southern forces intercepted another smuggling attempt in the same area near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The seized cargo included LAW anti-armor missiles, BMB armored vehicle ammunition, and several hand grenades, all reportedly destined for the Houthis.

Additionally, on April 28, Southern forces seized a separate shipment of illicit ammunition in the same region, believed to be en route to Houthi forces.

On Sunday, May 11, Yemen's Naval Forces announced two separate attempts to smuggle large quantities of military equipment to the Houthis via the Red Sea. The operations were conducted based on precise intelligence provided by the National Resistance’s General Intelligence Division in Mokha.

According to Yemen's official news agency SABA, two traditional sailing vessels en route from Djibouti to Ras Issa port in Hodeidah were intercepted. The boats were reportedly carrying three million detonators, 3,600 kilometers of explosive wiring, and 64 satellite communication devices.

INTERPOL Delegation Visits Aden

Separately, a delegation from INTERPOL visited the city of Aden on Monday. According to Dera AlGanoob, the Director of Aden Security, Maj. Gen. Mutaher Al-Shuaibi, met with the delegation to discuss enhancing cooperation in combating organized crime and securing the Red Sea.

The meeting, held at the Aden Security Headquarters, also addressed joint security concerns and the implementation of training programs to build the capacities of the local security agencies, with support from the European Union.