A senior security source in Ma'rib Governorate (northeastern Yemen) told Barran Press on Friday, August 16, 2024, that the "terrorist" attack on a position of the 2nd Road Protection Brigade in the eastern part of the governorate was carried out by "sabotage elements linked to cells affiliated with the Houthi group, which is internationally classified as a terrorist organization."

Earlier Friday, two soldiers and a bulldozer driver were killed in an attack by sabotage elements targeting a position of the 2nd Road Protection Brigade (north of Wadi district). The soldiers were protecting equipment constructing an earthen barrier as part of the security belt around Wadi district to prevent smuggling operations towards Houthi-controlled areas.

The source, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, added that "the attack was carried out by sabotage elements and gangs linked to Houthi cells, who are opposed to the establishment of a security belt around Wadi district, as it would cut off their access to the city of Ma'rib and limit smuggling operations."

The source explained that "the Wadi district security belt aims to prevent the smuggling of weapons and drugs towards Houthi areas and protect the city from the plans of the terrorist cells affiliated with the Iranian-backed group, which seek to undermine the security and stability of the governorate through planting explosive devices and carrying out assassinations. It has no tribal purpose or targets any specific group within the governorate."

The source pointed out that the attack, which resulted in the deaths of two road security forces and a bulldozer driver, comes as part of Houthi cells' attempts to prevent the establishment of the security belt around Wadi district. The three victims of the attack were identified as: Fahd bin Hamad bin Awshan, Ali Hassan Mohammed Aweer, and Naji Hadi Al-Barti (bulldozer driver).