Al Mukalla, Aden- The bomb disposal unit in Al Mukalla, south Yemen, defused eight explosive barrels, each weighing 65 kilograms and containing more than 520 kilograms of TNT explosives and C4.

The barrels were planted by al-Qaeda inside the wrecks of an old sunk ship six meters deep in the Arabian Sea. They were connected via wires, made especially for the purpose of bombing.

“If the terrorist members blew up these barrels, houses would have been totally destroyed as well as the fishing boats in the nearby port and the commercial ones not to mention the harm on fisheries and the coral reefs,” said Brigadier General Abu Salih al Yafei.

He described the operation as successful given that the unit specialized in disposing mines began defusing the explosives immediately after being notified. According to the brigadier general, the unit disposed each barrel separately before moving them to the sea, away from the city and the fishing boats.

Another military source in the Saudi Arabian Coalition stated that investigations with al-Qaeda members who were arrested and others who surrendered helped uncover the plot.

Short time has passed since liberating the city from al-Qaeda (end of April), yet Hadramout Elite Forces imposed security in the city and foiled several attempts to shake it. The authorities were able to restructure the police and activate the stations to enforce security and handle conflicts with the assistance of the judicial bodies.

The authorities worked on returning the state institutions to normal operation as well as the provision of basic needs to citizens. By setting up quick solutions, the authorities succeeded in enhancing water, electricity, health, roads and sanitary services in a way that alleviates citizens’ daily sufferings.