Barran Press
ABYAN, Yemen — On January 4, 2025, military sources reported that joint forces launched a swift operation in Abyan province, southern Yemen, successfully clearing a camp used by al-Qaeda militants from the Wadi Itisaba area.
According to a statement published on the Southern Shield website, affiliated with the southern transitional military formations, the Abyan Combat Axis, Security Belt, and Public Security forces collaborated to eliminate the terrorist camp in northern Abyan.
This operation was part of the broader "Eastern Arrows" campaign, aimed at securing the rugged mountainous regions of Khubaar, located between the districts of Ahwar and Wadi’a, which al-Qaeda had utilized as a base and transit routes to the adjacent Shabwa governorate.
The military commander of the Abyan axis, Mukhtar Al-Nubi, stated that the forces successfully took control of the Wadi Itisaba camp and cleared the Khubaar Al-Maraqsha region after confrontations that led to the retreat of al-Qaeda elements from this strategic location.
Al-Nubi emphasized that the operation has cut off all escape routes for terrorist elements, and vowed to continue pursuing and neutralizing them to liberate any hostages.
The report indicated that the forces secured the Wadi Itisaba camp and conducted extensive sweeps of the rugged mountains that al-Qaeda had used as a primary stronghold for its terrorist activities targeting coastal areas in the province.
Additionally, the campaign managed to recover vehicles previously seized by al-Qaeda militants, while operations continue to pursue them in the challenging terrain.