South24 | Aden

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Security and military developments recorded between February 21 and March 6, 2026 showed an escalation in strategic developments in South Yemen, including Saudi military movements, changes in security leadership, and large-scale seizures of smuggled shipments, alongside continued clashes with the Houthis and casualties on several fronts.

In Hadramout, the driver of a military vehicle belonging to the Nation’s Shield Forces was injured when an improvised explosive device targeted his vehicle in Seiyun. In Wadi Hadramout, authorities announced the arrest of three people involved in circulating counterfeit Saudi currency, while reports said Saudi-backed Emergency Forces continued mobilizing new recruits into the 37th Brigade in the Al-Khasha’a area.

In Al-Mahra, sources reported the arrival of new military reinforcements in Al-Ghaydah, including Saudi forces and armored vehicles. Security forces at Al-Wadiah border crossing also announced that they had foiled an attempt to smuggle 4,925 Captagon pills bound for Saudi Arabia. In Ras Al-Arah in Lahj governorate, the National Security Forces announced the seizure of about one million Captagon pills, saying the suspects admitted they had brought them from Sudan in preparation for smuggling them through Al-Mahra to Gulf countries.

In Aden, tensions escalated between the local authorities and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Al-Tawahi district after security forces affiliated with the Southern Giants Brigades closed the headquarters of the STC’s General Assembly and Foreign Affairs Authority and prevented employees from entering. The council also announced the arrest of Mohammed Hussein Jarallah, the acting head of its local leadership in Aden, before he was later released. On the following day, employees of the council’s General Secretariat were also prevented from entering their workplace.

The city also saw decisions aimed at restructuring the security apparatus. Yemen’s interior minister appointed Brigadier General Jalal Al-Rubaie as commander of the Special Security Forces in Aden and Lt. Col. Mayas Al-Jaadani as director of the Anti-Narcotics Department. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council issued a decision appointing Abdul Salam Al-Jamali as commander of the Yemeni Special Security Forces and Abdul Salam Al-Omari as head of the Civil Defense Authority.

On the frontlines with the Houthis, six soldiers from the 2nd Zaraniq Brigade were killed and 11 others injured in a Houthi attack on the Hays front in Hodeidah governorate on February 23, according to local sources. In Shabwa, a soldier from the Shabwa Defense Forces was killed in gunfire carried out by tribal gunmen in Ataq. The 5th Brigade also announced the “martyrdom” of one soldier and the injury of five others in mortar shelling targeting troop positions on the Harib front. In Al-Dhalea, a soldier from the Southern Forces was killed by Houthi sniper fire on the Murais front, while another soldier on the same front was wounded days later.

Security incidents involving drones were also recorded. Press sources reported the crash of a surveillance drone believed to be a Saudi Wing Loong 2 in the Al-Maraqisha mountains in Abyan governorate while carrying out an aerial reconnaissance mission. Meanwhile, circulating images indicated that a Houthi drone had fallen in an area between Rasad and Al-Saadi in Yafea, Lahj governorate.

As part of anti-smuggling operations, the Southern Giants Brigades announced the seizure of a shipment of smuggled medicines estimated at around 3,000 cartons in Bab Al-Mandab. They said the shipment had come from Iran and was on its way to a Houthi leader in Al-Salif port. Five smugglers transporting it aboard a small boat were also arrested. Shabwa police also announced the arrival of 120 irregular African migrants at the Arqah coast in Rudum district.

In a development tied to regional tensions, the United States urged its citizens in Yemen to leave the country via commercial flights from Aden, noting the limited number of flights available. The advisory came against the backdrop of military and security developments in the region linked to the escalation with Iran.

Browse all events recorded over the past two weeks on the following interactive map: