Xinhua quoted a military official as saying that Forces supporter to Yemen's government moved military corroboration to southern border areas in a bid to put off the Houthi rebels from intruding into southern regions.

The local military source further stated that "Units of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is part of Yemen's government, dispatched armored vehicles and infantrymen to the border areas of the country's southern province of Lahj."

He added that "Moving troops to a number of border positions in Al Qabbaytah district came in response to intelligence tips that armed groups were planning a large-scale attack through the territory against the southern provinces."

The source also declared that "The intelligence tips generated alarm in Aden about the possibility that the rebel forces would carry out attacks against the country's southern provinces."