| Submit your comments on this article |
| Arabia |
| Yemen army recruits 4,800 southern fighters: officer |
| 2015-08-29 |
| [Hurriyet Daily News] The Yemeni army has recruited 4,800 southern fighters following a presidential decision to integrate loyalist snuffies who helped push Iran-backed rebels out of second city Aden, a military official said Aug. 28. "This brigade has 4,800 fighters, including soldiers and officers. Most of the recruits are former fighters of the Popular Resistance" pro-government militia, Colonel Fadel Mohammed Hassan told AFP at a military base in Aden. The majority of the recruits come from Aden province, where forces loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi pushed back Iran-backed rebels last month, aided by Saudi-led Arab coalition air power. The Salman Decisiveness Brigade is named after the Saudi king, whose country has led the campaign in support of Hadi since late March. An AFP correspondent in Aden this week saw new recruits carrying out training drills, dust rising above them as they exercised. A sign on the base's front gate carried a poster of Gulf leaders, and a sign reading: "registration is closed." "All members of the resistance have been taken in without any exemptions" following orders from Hadi, said Hassan. |
| Posted by:Fred |