Violent clashes broke out on Wednesday evening and Thursday dawn between gunmen and security forces in the Shibam District of Hadramaut Governorate, amid successive explosions being heard and tension escalating in the region.

Local sources said that gunmen took control of the security administration building in the directorate, and were able to seize a security kit following violent confrontations, during which they prevented the Shibam security director, Muhammad Ghallab, from entering his office.

In an attempt to contain the situation, the Director of Wadi Hadhramaut Security, Brigadier General Abdullah bin Hubaish Al-Sayari, directed the closure of the Shibam Security Department and the removal of its director. However, these directives coincided with ongoing clashes between the militants and the security forces seeking to regain control of the building.

The situation in Shibam is still witnessing great tension, with mounting fears that the clashes will spread to other areas in the absence of any official announcement about the nature of the incident or the identity of the gunmen.