al-Hawtah

Government

Al - Hawtah is a city in the province of Shabwa in the south of Yemen. It has about 30,000 inhabitants and is surrounded by mountain ridges.

On 17 September 2010, the government of Yemen ordered an offensive against 120 Al Qaeda members should stay in the city. It was completely surrounded and shelled by tanks, artillery and fighter jets. Parachutists jumped off and there was fierce street fighting. Most residents left the city during the fighting. When the city was finally stormed after five days, the fighters were gone. It is assumed incompetence and corruption.