Aden (HRNW)- The convoy of Yemeni Defense Minister Taher Al-Aqili came under attack in Al-Dhalea province, leaving the convoy temporarily besieged by armed gunmen.
Some reports initially claimed that the Defense Minister had been taken hostage; however, the latest information indicates that he managed to leave the area following tribal mediation.
According to local reports, gunmen opened fire on the Defense Minister’s convoy, injuring two of his bodyguards and a child. The convoy subsequently took shelter inside a military camp, which was later surrounded by the attackers.
The gunmen reportedly presented demands concerning the detention of former Defense Minister Mohsen Al-Da’ari in Saudi Arabia. The siege was eventually lifted through tribal mediation, allowing Taher Al-Aqili to leave the area.
Taher Al-Aqili serves as Defense Minister in Yemen’s internationally recognized government and was appointed to the position in February 2026.
The incident highlights continuing divisions and tensions among various pro-government armed factions in southern Yemen, with internal political and military disagreements further complicating the ongoing conflict with the Houthis.
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