The Security Belt Forces (

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

: قوات الحزام الأمني) is a paramilitary force based in Southern

Yemen Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...

that forms the elite military wing of the

Southern Transitional Council The Southern Transitional Council (STC; ) is a secessionist organization in southern Yemen. The 26 members of the STC include the governors of five southern governorates and two government ministers. It was formed by a faction of the Southern ...

. The force operates in the governorates of

Aden Aden () is a port city located in Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, on the north coast of the Gulf of Aden, positioned near the eastern approach to the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 170 km (110 mi) east of ...

Lahij Lahij or Lahej (), formerly called Al-Hawtah, is a city and an area located between Ta'izz and Aden in Yemen. From the 18th to the 20th century, its rulers were of the Abdali branch of the Al-Sallami tribe who trace their lineage to one of the 1 ...

and Abyan and is trained and heavily supported by the

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces () are the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates. They consist of the United Arab Emirates Army, UAE Army, United Arab Emirates Navy, UAE Navy, United Arab Emirates Air Force, UAE Air Force, United Arab E ...

. The Security Belt has fought against

Islah Islah or Al-Islah (الإصلاح ,إصلاح, ') is an Arabic word, usually translated as "reform", in the sense of "to improve, to better, to put something into a better position, correction, correcting something and removing vice, reworking, ...

al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula ( or : Tanẓīm Qā‘idat al-Jihād fī Jazīrat al-‘Arab, . Organization of Jihad's Base in the Arabian Peninsula), or AQAP is a Sunni Islam, Sunni Islamic extremism, Islamist militant organization which s ...

and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s Yemeni branch. In the Battle of Aden (2018), Mount Hadid, which was under control of troops led by Major General

Aidarus al-Zoubaidi Major general, Major General Aidarus Qassem Abdulaziz Al-Zubaidi (born 1967; ) is the Vice President within the Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and president of the Southern Transitional Council and the de facto leader of the South ...

, came under attack by pro-Hadi government forces. The Security Belt consolidated its force in Aden and has established the city as its central command. According to reporting by

The Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are distributed to its members, major ...

, Security Belt forces provide security for Beir Ahmed prison in Aden, which has reportedly been the site of extensive torture and human rights violations.

References

Paramilitary organizations based in Yemen Yemeni civil war (2014–present) Organizations of the Yemeni Crisis (2011–present) Separatism in Yemen {{Yemen-stub

See also

References