Al-Aqili, a Saudi-backed northerner appointed in February, was in STC heartland — the home turf of STC leader al-Zubaidi.
This is a Saudi-backed government vs. southern/STC fault line flaring up again after the UAE's pullback and STC setbacks earlier this year.
NEW: Armed groups in Al-Dhale'a, Yemen — described as UAE-backed STC remnants and "families of martyrs" — cut all roads, surrounded a military camp, attacked the convoy, and detained bodyguards of Yemen's internationally recognized Defence Minister al-Aqili during his visit today.
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