Barran Press
Yemen's internationally recognized Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Mohsen al-Da'eri, announced on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, that "important information" has been gathered regarding the abduction of Major Ali Ashal. He indicated that this information will be revealed to the public during a press conference in the coming days.
The announcement was made during a cabinet meeting in Aden, the temporary capital, chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak. The meeting discussed various domestic issues, developments, and recent events, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.
The Defense Minister, who also heads the Supreme Security Committee, briefed the cabinet on the progress made in the investigation into the circumstances of Major Ashal's abduction and the actions taken by security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted officer.
The cabinet commended the efforts of the Supreme Security Committee and the relevant agencies, emphasizing the need to complete the investigation and disclose the findings to the public. The cabinet also stressed the importance of maintaining security, stability, and public order.
On July 9, 2024, the Supreme Security Committee acknowledged the "abduction crime" of Sheikh and Yemeni army officer Ali Ashal al-Ja'adbi, issuing arrest warrants for four suspects: Samih Aidrous al-Norghi, Tamam Mohammed Ghalib Hassan "al-Batta," Bakil Mukhtar Mohammed Saad, and Mahmoud Othman Saeed al-Hindi.
The committee also ordered the suspension of the commander of the Counterterrorism Forces in Aden, Yisran al-Maqatri, pending investigation. The suspects were handed over to Aden security forces, and a joint investigation committee was formed, comprising members from Aden security, Abyan security, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Security Belt, intelligence, and the Counterterrorism Agency.
The committee further ordered the apprehension of all suspects in all crimes and the pursuit of fugitives from justice. The Public Prosecution was assigned to oversee the investigations, with instructions to expedite the procedures and refer the case to the judicial authorities.
Earlier, tribes in Abyan governorate, where Ashal's family hails from, had given security agencies in Aden a deadline to reveal the fate of their abducted son and apprehend the suspects.
On June 28, Abyan tribes held a consultative meeting in Aden to discuss the disappearance of Major Ali Ashal al-Ja'adbi. They threatened to escalate the situation if he was not released unharmed and reiterated their right to retaliate, leaving all options open.
The tribes demanded immediate intervention from the Presidential Leadership Council, the unity government, the Southern Transitional Council, and the Arab coalition leadership to disclose the location of Major Ali Abdullah Ashal al-Ja'adbi and secure his release.
The tribes claim that al-Ja'adbi was abducted in Aden on June 12, 2024, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
On July 14, 2024, Attorney General Qaher Mustafa issued a decision appointing Judge Azzam Ibrahim Ahmed Abdul-Magni, head of the technical office at the Public Prosecution Office, to investigate the case of Ashal's disappearance.
Article two of the decision authorized the head of the technical office to exercise the powers of the Attorney General in reviewing and handling serious crimes related to the case.