A security officer with the National Security Forces, formerly known as the Security Belt, was assassinated on Saturday evening by armed assailants in the city of Mudiyah, Abyan Governorate, southern Yemen. The attack, believed to be carried out by militants affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia, an organization also known as Al-Qaeda, occurred while the officer was in the local market. Local sources reported that two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on Officer Saleh Al-Hawza, who served in the Al-Wadiah district, as he was present in the Mudiyah market. The assailants fled the scene to an unknown location immediately after the attack. According to the sources, Officer Al-Hawza succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the attack. As of the time of this report, security agencies in Abyan Governorate have not issued any official statement detailing the circumstances of the incident or identifying the perpetrators. Abyan Governorate, particularly its eastern districts, frequently experiences attacks and assassinations targeting security and military officials. These incidents occur amidst ongoing security and military campaigns to pursue extremist elements, prominently including Ansar al-Sharia, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, in various areas of the governorate. |
