ABYAN — Armed men from Ansar Al-Sharia launched an attack against the 111th Infantry Brigade in the south of Lawdar on the morning of Monday April 9, a local resident told the Yemen Times.

“Fierce clashes between Ansar Al-Sharia and the 111th Brigade broke out last Monday but interference from the people’s defense committees caused heavy losses against Ansar Al-Sharia,” he continued.

Armed men from Ansar Al-Sharia launched major attacks from three sides two days after the previous attack. The first attack was from near Lawdar’s electricity station, the second from Zara mountain and the third from Yasoof village, local source said.

The people’s defense committees fought hard causing the death of nine fighters from Ansar Al-Sharia. Ten others were killed in an air attack launched on Wednesday against one of their strongholds in the Al-Fain area, he added.

Several fighters of the people’s defense committees were killed including Muhammed Ja’bel Sheikh, Lawder’s former general manager, according to local sources.

Tens were killed on both sides on the fourth day of clashes between Ansar Al-Sharia and the people’s defense committees. Further, Lawdar’s electricity station was severely damaged, local sources said.

According to the state-run SABA News Agency, 28 fighters affiliated to Ansar Al-Sharia were killed in an attack launched by Yemeni forces in Lawdar last Friday morning.

The agency said, “Military forces, in cooperation with anti-terrorist forces continue to follow the other members of Ansar Al-Sharia.”

The agency stated, “The military and security forces along with the people’s defense committees continue fighting the remnants of Ansar Al-Sharia in different areas and mountains near Lawdar using artillery and Katyusha rockets.”

Military sources said, “Heavily armed Central Security Forces and anti-terrorist forces arrived in the western parts of Lawdar on Friday morning. These forces launched fierce attacks against Ansar Al-Sharia strongholds in Sharwan Mountain.”

Seven people from the people’s defense committees, described in a statement given to journalists by Ansar Al-Sharia as mercenaries, were killed in an attack launched by Ansar Al-Sharia on Friday morning in Sharwan Mountain, Lawdar city.

Ansar Al-Sharia affirmed that, “Thirty seven people linked to the people’s defense committees were killed and dozens wounded on the same day in clashes near Lawdar’s electricity station. Further, a fighter affiliated to Ansar Al-Sharia was killed and four wounded during the clashes.”