The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has sent hundreds of fighters to the oil-rich, south-eastern province of Shabwa to retake three districts that fell to the Iran-backed Houthis in September.
“Hundreds of troops were mobilised from the southern territories to liberate the western districts of Bayhan, Ain and Ousaiylan in Shabwa,” a military commander told The National.
The three districts are home to some of the most productive oil sites in southern Yemen.
The units include troops from Al Amalikah forces, which have been fighting the Houthis in the western coast. Other forces under the command of the Southern Transitional Council are involved.
A large military campaign is expected to begin soon.
The move came two days after President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi dismissed the province's governor, accusing him of corruption and mismanagement. Mohammed bin Aydo belongs to Al Islah party.
Mr Hadi appointed Sheikh Awadh Mohammed Alaulaki, a prominent tribal leader, as Shabwa's new governor.
Protests had erupted in the province demanding Mr bin Aydo’s dismissal. Demonstrators accused him of abusing power and handing over the province’s resources to his party.
“We welcomed the decision to appoint Sheikh Awadh Alaulaki as a new governor for Shabwa and we will support him to deal with all the issues that had accumulated in the province in the last couple of years” Ali Al Katheri, a spokesman for the Southern Transitional Council told The National.
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Salah in numbers
€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.
13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.
57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.
7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.
3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.
40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.
30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.
8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
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Total fights: 32
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Losses: 4
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