Hundreds of the “Shabwa Elite” militia backed by the UAE cut off the main streets in Ataq city, the capital of Shabwa province, Yemen Press Agency reported on Thursday.
Local eyewitnesses confirmed that elite members, who were abandoned by the UAE, targeted the main streets leading to Ataq Airport, which the UAE forces are based, in protest against the non-payment of their monthly cash rewards from the Emirates, which dispensed with their services in the province.
The sources reported that armed elements set fire to the damaged tyres, which led to riots in the city.
The UAE abandoned thousands of the “Shabwa Elite” militia at the end of last December, and replaced them with the “Shabwa Defense” militia that had been brought in from the western coast loyal to “Tariq Afash”.
