UAE did not attack Somali refugee boat
Nation welcomes independent international probe into incident that killed 40
UAE forces did not attack a boat carrying Somali refugees from Yemen to Sudan, according to an unnamed government source.
The forces recognised the boat was carrying a large number of civilians, WAM reported, adding that the UAE remains committed to the rules of engagement that prohibit it from engaging with any non-military target.
UAE authorities are continuing investigations into the “painful humanitarian disaster” but have not ruled out that the boat was targeted by Iran-backed Al Houthi rebels, the source said.
The UAE also welcomes an independent international investigation into the incident.
At least 40 Somali refugees were killed when a helicopter attacked the boat they were travelling in late on Thursday, the United Nations Refugee Agency said.
On Saturday, the Somali government condemned the attack and called on the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen to investigate, officials said.
S ecurity authorities in Yemen’s southeastern province of Hadramout have deployed dozens of policewomen at military checkpoints outside Al Mukalla and neighbouring regions to detect Al Qaida militants who seek to sneak back into their former stronghold by disguising themselves in women’s clothing.
Major General Ahmad Saeed Bin Bourek, the governor of Hadramout, told Gulf News yesterday that policemen have nabbed several Al Qaida militants donning abayas and foiled attempts to smuggle arms into or out of Al Mukalla.
“We have deployed 60 policewomen at all entrances of Al Mukalla and other major towns to check vehicles carrying women. We want to make sure that Al Qaida does not sneak into the city to undermine security,” Bin Bourek said.
In Yemen’s conservative society, vehicles carrying females usually go unchecked at checkpoints.
After occupying Al Mukalla, Yemen’s fifth largest city, Sheher and Ghayel Bawazer for more than a year, thousands of UAE-funded and trained forces drove the militants out of their strongholds early last year.
Officials told Gulf News that some Al Qaida militants who did not flee the offensive, tried to sneak out of Al Mukalla in abayas.
“They have recently faked a wedding procession to slip into Al Mukalla. Policewomen discovered that the bride was actually an armed Al Qaida militant,” the governor said.
Unlike other liberated provinces in South Yemen that have not fully recovered from Al Houthi and Al Qaida occupation, Al Mukalla has seen improved security and uninterrupted supplies of goods and fuel.
Schools and universities have also been open since liberation.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni Ministry of Defence said on Monday that as many as 20 Al Houthi fighters were killed when they unsuccessfully attempted to recapture Bouqa market in the northern province of Saada.
Fighting in the Al Houthi heartland of Saada has intensified in recent weeks amid a coalition-backed government offensive. The Saudi-led coalition has been instrumental in giving air support and providing logistical support to the advancing Yemeni army which is on the verge of completely liberating Bouqa.
Meanwhile, outside Sana’a intense fighting continued along the Nehim-Arhab borders between rebel and Yemen army.