Financial donations to the "sheikhs" fail to extend the influence of Marib's authority over "Ubaidah"
English - Wednesday 01 March 2023 الساعة 08:11 am
Ma'rib, NewsYemen, Private:
The local and security authorities of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islah party in Marib failed to extend their influence over the areas of Wadi Ubaidah in the Al-Wadi district, which is witnessing escalating activity in security incidents, as well as movements of elements likely to be linked to al-Qaeda.
Although the Marib authorities reached agreements with the sheikhs of the Ubaidah tribes to control the security situation, the incidents of severance, looting and killing increased during the current year and extended to areas under the control of the Brotherhood forces, amid severe security secrecy.
Since the beginning of the year 2023, security sources have monitored more than 18 incidents of interruption and looting of military patrols and the detonation of explosive devices, the latest of which took place last Friday in the Al-Husun area of the Al-Wadi Directorate, according to NewsYemen sources.
The security authorities did not explain the details of the explosion, saying only that the explosion occurred in the Rumaila area, without causing any casualties.
Field sources indicate to NewsYemen that the security points controlled by the army forces are under fire on a daily basis by tribal gunmen, causing injuries and deaths among the security belt members.
The security belt is located before the Wadi Ubaidah area of the Al-Wadi Directorate and extends from the power station to after the Authority’s hospital in the city, while the Al-Hosun area of the Al-Wadi Directorate is located east of the city, at a distance of 2 km, and it is the last area in which these operations are carried out against the officers and the army leadership.
During the months of January and February, tribal gunmen looted 8 military patrols and injured the drivers of the military crews.
The security chaos incidents were not limited to areas outside the security belt, but security sources recorded the looting of military crews from inside the city and their fleeing outside the city.
According to the sources, 14 vehicles belonging to military leaders and crews were looted from the city center during the months of January and February.
The sources explained to NewsYemen that the armed gangs are looting and fleeing towards the farms located behind Al-Kharashi camp in Al-Wadi district.
The sources also recorded the detonation of 4 explosive devices targeting military crews inside the city, without causing any injuries.
On February 23, an army colonel was assassinated under mysterious circumstances, amid a security cover-up on the incident.
The sources confirmed that the leader, Ahmed Musaed Ahmed Al-Ghunaimi Al-Muradi, was assassinated in the Arg Al-Shabwan area, in the Al-Wadi District, under mysterious circumstances.
Observers point to the involvement of tribal sheikhs from Ubaidah in supporting armed gangs in the valley, which is notorious for drug trafficking.
According to the sources, the tribal leaders committed themselves to controlling the situation there, refusing to expand the security belt, in exchange for their support from the governor, Arada.
It said that large financial allocations reach tribal sheikhs on a monthly basis, after they were approved by the governor of Marib, Major General Sultan al-Arada.
Despite the support received by the tribal leaders, the lawless actions increased, while the sheikhs took advantage of this to raise the ceiling of their demands, which hindered the establishment of control of the security situation in the Valley Directorate.
According to sources, members and leaders of the army and security forces are being killed, kidnapped and looted by the security patrols in Al Shabwan, which are areas outside the security belt.
