Yemeni forces backed by the United Arab Emirates have seized energy facilities in Shabwa from another faction, prompting the head of the Saudi-backed presidential council on Sunday to order their withdrawal as internal rivalries beset the new body.
The fate of the council is important for Saudi Arabia which is trying to strengthen an alliance against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, and for U.N. efforts to forge a permanent ceasefire in the wider conflict that has dragged for over seven years.
Forces of the Islamist Islah Party said in a statement that the UAE-backed Giants Brigade and their allies on Saturday took over offices in oil sector 4 in Ayaz in southern Shabwa province and pipeline stations and were holding some of their forces.
