Vice President Lt. Gen. Ali Mohsen Saleh on Friday met the security and military leaders of Shabwa including the province’s governor Ali al-Harthy and a number of his deputies.

The Vice President praised the achieved triumph over the Houthi rebels in the eastern province thanks to the unity of the local people and the support of the brotherly member countries of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition.

He said it is time now to make the best use of the Arab Coalition’s support to extend state authority and maintain security in preparation for Yemen’s transformation into a six-region federal state.

He also stressed the need for maximum security preparedness in terms of military and intelligence capabilities to to combat smuggling and terrorism, and to fulfill the citizens’ needs and protect them and public and private facilities.

The governor and the security and military leaders presented reports of the local achievements and security plans set for the coming period, expressing their appreciation of the Vice President’s follow-up on the affairs of the province.