Nation s Shield Forces Assume Control of Strategic Security Checkpoints in Aden

The Nation’s Shield (Dir’ al-Watan) forces announced on Friday that they have officially assumed control over key security checkpoints across the city of Aden. This major security transition follows a period of heightened tension and a reported attempt by elements affiliated with the now-dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC) to storm Al-Maashiq Palace, the official seat of the Yemeni government.

Media outlets loyal to the Nation’s Shield forces confirmed that the takeover was finalized on Friday, encompassing all primary security sites previously garrisoned by STC-affiliated units.

The Nation’s Shield forces represent the most recent addition to Yemen’s military landscape. Formed under the authority of the President of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC),Rashad al-Alimi, the force operates under the direct supervision and backing of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The deployment in Aden comes just days after the forces entered the city as part of an ongoing initiative to integrate various military and security factions. This move follows the successful handover of military responsibilities to the Nation’s Shield in the strategic provinces of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, as well as several other urban centers, over the past few months.

The Yemeni government is actively working to empower these forces as part of a broader strategy to re-establish sovereign control over Aden, where the cabinet recently relocated. These efforts, however, have faced significant friction from armed formations loyal to the STC, which has historically received support from the United Arab Emirates.