Shabwani Elite Explained

The Shabwani Elite (Arabic: النخبة الشبوانية; An-Nukhba al-Shabwaniyya) are a military unit operating in the Shabwah Governorate of Yemen, mainly against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The unit consisted of at least 6,000 troops and controlled the majority of the province as of early November 2017, according to its commander Mohamed Salem al-Qumishi.^[1]

Armed and trained by the United Arab Emirates,^[2] the Shabwani Elite began a large operation against AQAP on August 2, 2017, with the backing of Emirati and American forces,^[3] capturing the city of Ataq in the process.^[4]

Notes and References

1. News: قائد "النخبة الشبوانية": "القاعدة" أغرت شباباً بمشاريع اجتماعية مسيّسة [Commander of Shabwani Elite: Al-Qaeda lured youth with attractive social projects] ]. Asharq Al-Awsat . 3 November 2017 . 11 May 2018 . Al-Qadi, Bassam.
2. News: UAE-backed forces take Al Qaida Shabwa enclaves . Gulf News . 25 February 2018 . 11 May 2018 . Al-Batati, Saeed.
3. News: Thousands of Yemeni Forces Target Qaeda Stronghold . The New York Times . 6 August 2017 . 11 May 2018 . Al-Batati, Saeed . Schmitt, Eric .
4. News: Eleven dead in suicide attack at Yemen checkpoint: officials . Reuters . 30 January 2018 . 11 May 2018.