On Sunday, the Giant Brigades, supported by legitimate forces and coalition airstrikes, began an attack from three fronts in the Ain district of Shabwa. In recent hours, the Yemeni army and the Giant Brigades have made significant progress in Shabwa province, liberating the Bayhan district. After granting the Houthi militias a six-hour ultimatum to withdraw, the Giant Brigades announced on Saturday the end of that period, thus starting the third phase of the province's liberation by targeting the Ain district.
A focused aerial and ground campaign is expected to begin today, coordinated with the legitimacy support coalition, against the militias in the Ain district, aiming to expel them.
Shabwa Governor Awd Mohammed Abdullah Al-Awlaki told Al Arabiya on Sunday, "We will announce full control over Shabwa province in a matter of hours." He added, "Our military operations against the militias will not stop and will shift to other areas," emphasizing that "the coalition's support was the cornerstone of liberating Shabwa province." He called on the Yemeni government to "support development in the province after expelling the militias."
Regarding the liberation of Bayhan, the Giant Brigades confirmed earlier on Friday evening the success of the second phase of Operation Southern Tempest by liberating the Bayhan district, stressing their complete readiness to carry out the third phase without delay to liberate "Ain."
The official spokesperson for the armed forces, Brigadier General Abdu Majali, previously stated that the army and the Giant Brigades managed to liberate and recover the Al-Ulya city, the administrative center of the Bayhan district, and gain control over the asphalt road linking Bayhan to Al-Bayda province.
He also added that the army and the Giant Brigades recaptured key sites and areas, notably the Al-Ulya market, the surrounding mountains, and locations. He confirmed that the Houthi defeats were continuing, alongside the flight and collapse within their ranks. He noted that engineering teams began removing mines and clearing all obstacles in preparation for the return of citizens to the liberated areas, emphasizing the significant welcome from the residents in anticipation of the army and resistance forces.
Additionally, he revealed that several militia elements were captured while groups of them fled towards Al-Bayda province.
These field developments come a week after the Yemeni army and the Giant Brigades launched simultaneous campaigns on the fronts of Shabwa and Marib provinces, achieving notable progress in both provinces.
The Houthis had seized control of three districts in southern Shabwa in September 2021, including the Aseelan district, which government forces regained a few days ago, in addition to the Bayhan and Ain districts. The militias had launched a campaign on Marib, rich in oil, since February 2021 to seize it, yet they registered only slight progress despite fierce attacks on the region bustling with millions of displaced people.
