A local official in Shabwah governorate, eastern Yemen, narrowly escaped an ambush set by tribal gunmen in the Sa'eed district, south of the governorate.

Tribal sources reported to "Barran Press" that the ambush targeted the district governor of Sa'eed, Sheikh Abu Bakr bin Farid bin Abu Bakr al-Awlaki, in the "Al-Massha" area as he was returning from Ataq, the governorate's capital.

The ambush, carried out by tribal gunmen from the "Al-Ahmed bin Farid" family, was reportedly motivated by a long-standing blood feud. Three of Sheikh Abu Bakr bin Farid's bodyguards were injured in the attack, one seriously.

The incident follows tribal clashes that erupted between the two families in early July, involving heavy weaponry. The fighting prompted the deployment of a joint force from the Giants Brigades and Shabwah Defense Forces from Ataq to Sa'eed district in an attempt to quell the violence.