Through Oman... the largest shipment of modern weapons to Qatar's militias is smuggled into Yemen
English - Sunday 19 September 2021 الساعة 04:11 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:
The Sana'a Center for Studies confirmed that the Islah Party, the local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, continues to recruit fighters to special camps in Taiz Governorate, southwest of Yemen.
In a recent report published on its official website, the center said that Islah has established a new training camp at the former Higher Institute for Teachers in the Asafra area, in the center of Taiz, in early 2021, while other fighters are being trained in Ma'rib Governorate.
He pointed out that the Brotherhood, after establishing its control over the military and security structures in Taiz (the Taiz axis), moved towards forming an informal parallel structure by forming irregular military units and training camps on the border area with Lahj.
He noted that this area was chosen to establish training camps due to its rural terrain, its reassuring distance from Houthi-controlled areas and its proximity to southern Yemen and the Red Sea coast.
He explained that the Islah party effectively used the official military leadership of the government forces to serve its goals, and appointed loyalists to it in the command center of the Taiz military axis, such as Khaled Fadel as the leader of the axis, and Abdo Farhan al-Mikhlafi, known as “Salem,” as an advisor to the leader.
He said that the axis advisor, "Salem", works independently of state institutions, as he fully abides by the directives issued by the head of the Supreme Council of the Islah Party, Muhammad al-Yadoumi, who resides between Riyadh and Istanbul.
He pointed out that Salem has been a member of the Brotherhood for a long time, as he has run the group's military wing in the cities of Taiz and Lahj since the summer war of 94, and also the hidden engineer to form the armed factions that fought the Yemeni army during the 2011 crisis.
After the formation of the Yafers training camp - the report says - three new training camps were created, the first in the Rasin area of the Al-Shamaitin district, the other in the Al-Sunnah area in the Al-Ma'afer district, and the third in the Al-Fawada area in the Al-Mawasit district.
The Brotherhood’s deployment of these militias in the border areas between Taiz and Lahj coincided with the announcement of the formation of the Tur al-Baha axis in November 2020, named after the district located in Lahj to give a false impression that it is an official military entity affiliated with the Yemeni government.
The report stated: "President Hadi did not issue an official decision to establish the Tur al-Baha axis or to appoint the Brotherhood leader Abu Bakr al-Jaboli as its leader, as well as the leaders of the brigades."
He stated that the number of Brotherhood forces in Tur al-Baha does not exceed 5,000 fighters until today, but al-Jabouli seeks to increase the number, as he continues to train new recruits, and also seeks to expand the axis from the Camp Center in Wadi al-Hamr in the Ma`bak area of the Al-Maqatirah Directorate in the governorate. Hajj to areas that support the Southern Transitional Council in the province.
According to the report, the Brotherhood leader residing between Oman and Turkey, Hammoud Al-Mikhlafi, has secured large quantities of light and medium weapons from local arms markets in southern Yemen and through smuggled shipments from abroad through Al-Mahra Governorate.
The Sana’a Center for Studies said that the money that Al-Mikhlafi lavished on sheikhs and military leaders in the areas of Al-Sabiha and Tur Al-Baha in Lahj governorate succeeded in contributing to securing the passage of smuggled weapons and equipment to the area for the benefit of the irregular armed factions of the Brotherhood.
He stressed that more than 70 modern four-wheel drive vehicles have recently crossed by land from the Omani border to the Hajariya countryside and the city of Taiz without being intercepted by anyone, in addition to smuggling modern weapons shipments, including thermal missiles, modern sniper rifles and spy drones.
