Elite troops supported by Emirati forces have begun a campaign to track down al-Qaeda militants in mountain hideouts in the Shabwa province of southern Yemen.
The campaign, called White Mountains, complements a mission in which troops were sent to the three Shabwa districts of Nesab, Markha and Khourah in April 2018.
“Fierce clashes flared between our forces and al-Qaeda militants in the district of Khoura, lasting for about three hours,” Col Mohammed Al Bouhar, commander of the Shabwa force, told The National.
“It ended as our forces took control over their main base in the area that was used as training base.”
There were no casualties reported but the extremists from the base fled towards the province of Al Bayda, Col Al Bouhar said.