The Arab Coalition reiterated on Tuesday its supportfor the legitimate Yemeni government, adding that it will not tolerate attemptsto undermine security in Yemen's al-Mahra governorate.
"We support the Yemeni government's efforts to addressorganized crime, smuggling and attempts to undermine security and stability in al-MahrahGovernorate," said a statement of the Arab Coalition.
Colonel Turki al-Maliki, the spokesperson of the ArabCoalition, added in the statement that "The attempts of organized crime andsmuggling groups in al-Mahra Governorate constitute a real security threat thatundermines the legitimate efforts of the Yemeni government to imposesecurity and stability in the governorate."
Al-Maliki revealed that "some of the well-known figures inthe governorate who are heading organized crime and smuggling groups attemptedyesterday (Monday), to disrupt the efforts of government security agencies tostop and control smuggling operations in the governorate, and sought tofacilitate these operations by using violence and lethal force by targetingsecurity units and coalition forces, causing some injuries" among the securitypersonnel.
He added that the Yemeni security forces and the ArabCoalition took the appropriate retaliatory measures, and by seizing weaponsduring the operation.
For his part, Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadidirected all security and army units inal-Mahra governorate on Tuesday to deal firmly with the situation.
