Elite Forces

The Elite Forces are military units engaged in stabilization and counter-terrosim operations. Founded in 2016, they are trained, supplied, and financed by the United Arab Emirates. While officially under the authority of the Ministry of Defense, the Elite Forces are reported to fall under the operational command of the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The Elite Forces are organized based on territorial criteria and lack a unitary command. The Shabwani Elite Forces (SEF), which at their peak counted around 7,000 fighters in their ranks, were gradually disbanded between 2020 and 2021. The Hadrami Elite Forces (HEF) comprise three brigades, and continue to operate under Major General Faiz Mansur al-Tamimi. There have been reports of other Elite Forces in Mahra and Suqutra, but they remain inactive at the time of writing.

Elite Forces Leadership

Although formally integrated into the Ministry of Defense, the Elite Forces are backed by the UAE and fall under the operational command of the STC. Muhammad al-Bawhir al-Qumayshi, a young commander from the Awaliq tribe in Lahij, was installed as general commander of the SEF in December 2016. He resigned from his post in March 2021, citing the marginalization of the SEF in the STC command.¹ As a commander, he proved unwavering loyalty to the UAE, despite suffering several military setbacks in Shabwa and Abyan.² The HEF instead gained a stronger local dimension under the leadership of Faraj al-Bahsani, the former governor of Hadramawt. As al-Bahsani sided increasingly with the STC, Saudi Arabia obtained to replace him with Major General Faiz Mansur al-Tamimi in August 2022.³ Tamimi, a former HEF brigade commander from Wadi Hadramawt, is reportedly aligned with the STC.⁴

Historical background

After establishing the Security Belt Forces (SBF) in early 2016, the UAE decided to create the Elite Forces as part of its ‘tribal strategy.’⁵ The objective was to incorporate local tribal militias into the architecture of the SBF in sensitive or problematic areas like Shabwa and Hadramawt, using them in stabilization and counter-terrorism operations. In July 2016, the UAE started recruiting and training Shabwani tribesmen from the al-Wahidi, Bani Hilal, Balabid, and Bilharith tribes,⁶ though excluding the influential Awaliq tribesmen, with whom Abu Dhabi entertains a fraught relationship.⁷

The training of these fighters occurred in Hadramawt, specifically in the al-Khalidiyya and Ghayl Bin Yamin camps, resulting in the formation of three SEF brigades in August 2016.⁸ At its peak, the SEF comprised seven brigades and over 6,000 members armed with modern weaponry supplied by the UAE.⁹ Between 2016 and 2018, the SEF mainly engaged in operations against AQAP and Islamic State in Shabwa, while also safeguarding sensitive targets such as the energy infrastructure.

When tensions erupted between the STC and the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG), the SEF decisively sided with the former. In January 2018, during the battle of Aden, SEF units supported the SBF against Hadi’s Presidential Guard.¹⁰ Subsequently, in the summer of 2019, the SEF engaged in clashes with the IRG forces in Shabwa, suffering a defeat. When the IRG regained control of the governorate, the SEF were temporarily relocated to Aden and then gradually disbanded. Since 2020, SEF activity has consistently decreased, eventually coming to a complete halt in 2022 following the formation of the UAE-backed Shabwani Defense Forces.

In a similar vein, the UAE established three HEF brigades in 2016, drawing from local tribal elites, former army officers, and members of the Southern Movement (al-Hirak al-Janubi, or just Hirak). Unlike the SEF, the HEF were seen as an extension of Hadramawt governor, Faraj al-Bahsani, who was also the IRG commander of the 2nd military district. After liberating al-Mukalla from the presence of AQAP in April 2016, the HEF maintained control of coastal Hadramawt, placing Mukalla port and the Bir Ali oil terminal under UAE influence. After reaching a peak in 2018, the HEF’s counter-terrorism activity consistently dwindled until it came to a complete halt in 2022. Major General Faiz Mansur al-Tamimi replaced Bahsani as HEF and 2nd military district commander in August 2022.

The UAE has attempted to establish other Elite forces in several southern governorates. Since 2015,¹¹ Abu Dhabi strove to establish a Mahri Elite Forces (MEF), facing the firm opposition of local political elites willing to preserve Mahra’s autonomy.¹² In early 2019, media reported that 4,000 fighters trained in Hadramawt had been transferred to Mahra’s capital al-Ghayda. Yet, besides these movements, no MEF activity was ever recorded by ACLED. In Suqutra, reports of the impending establishment of a UAE-backed Elite Force began spreading in May 2018, after the appointment of the pro-Islah governor Ramzi Mahrus, and again in May 2019.¹³ Despite these speculations, no activity of the Suqutri Elite Forces was ever recorded by ACLED.

Timeline

• 2015 | The UAE establishes the Mahri Elite Forces, but they are soon disbanded
• 2016
  • Aug. | The UAE establishes the Shabwani Elite Forces
  • The UAE establishes the Hadrami Elite Forces
• 2019-22 | The Shabwani Elite Forces are gradually disbanded
• 2021
  • Mar. | Muhammad al-Bawhir tenders his resignation from the command of the Shabwani Elite Forces
• 2022
  • Aug. | Major General al-Tamimi is appointed commander of the 2nd military district and of the Hadrami Elite Forces
• 2023
  • Oct. | The HEF launch Operation Scales of Justice in al-Mukalla