SANA'A: According to the local authorities, al-Qaeda militants based in the eastern province of Mareb in Yemen have once again targeted the country's oil and gas infrastructure by damaging a pipeline, prompting a halt in production on Monday. An improvised explosive device was used in the blast near the city of Mayfaa in Shabwa province. Local residents added that alleged al-Qaeda fighters engage the security forces in a gun battle before blowing up the pipeline. Yemeni officials in the province told Bikyamasr.com correspondents that they suspected the move was made in retaliation to grand scale military strike conducted by the country's armed forces against al-Qaeda's stronghold in the southern province of Abyan. For the past few days, the defense ministry in partnership with local tribes decided to drive all Islamic militants from Zinjibar and Jaar, which were seized last year in a bid to block the terror group's advances in the region and force them to retreat back in hiding. Pounding al-Qaeda from the air and the sea, as well as conducting ground assaults, the army has however yet to announce victory. Economists warned that further disruption of the Oil industry will hinder Yemen's hopes for a swift economic recovery. “Insecurity is a major issue in Yemen as foreign investors will be reluctant to start up new projects. Several major oil companies have already downgraded their presence to the minimum by fear of further attacks on their staff. “These elements make a recovery difficult,” said Hesham Chouad, a professor of economics based in Dubai.
