SHABWA, April 22 — Security forces affiliated with the Yemeni 3rd Naval Brigade deployed extensively last Saturday around the Yemen Liquid Natural Gas Company on the harbor in Belhaf, Shabwa governorate, and imposed several blockades in anticipation of attacks from Ansar Al-Sharia, a militant group affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

This deployment came as a reaction to known Ansar Al-Sharia plans to attack YLNG Company and its petrol stations in Belhaf using cars bombs, according to security sources in Shabwa.

Ansar Al-Sharia, based in the Azzan area of southern Shabwa, prepared six cars bombs last Thursday with the aim of attacking the company in Belhaf, where large numbers of foreigners gather, according to the Ministry of Interior.

The Minister of Interior ordered Shabwa's security office to deal with the threats eriously in order to find ways to prevent Ansar Al-Sharia attacks on the company, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Moreover, the Ministry expressed its confidence in Shabwa's security services to stop Ansar Al-Sharia attacks.

Ansar Al-Sharia's plans to attack the YLNG Company using car bombs shows the diminishing scale and elaborateness of their operations due to the major attacks against them in Abyan, Shabwa and Al Bayda', according to the Ministry of Interior.

Ansar Al-Sharia, still controls many parts of Shabwa governorate, in the south east of Yemen, particularly Azzan, which lies between Maifa'a and Al-Radoom districts.

US drone aircraft recommenced flying missions again last Friday, along with Yemeni military planes, above the Al-Rawdah and Azzan areas in Shabwa to track Ansar Al-Sharia operatives.

 The US drones and the Yemeni military planes broke the sound barrier in the skies above Al-Rawdah and Maifa'a districts. As a result of the sonic boom, residents feared a military attack on their area, according to eyewitnesses in Al-Rawdah district.

 A drone, thought to be under American control, made an exploratory flight over these districts, along with low-flying Yemeni military planes.