Yemen’s political crisis has paralyzed the government as widespread anti-government demonstrations occur throughout the country’s major cities. Al Qaeda-linked militants have taken advantage of the security and power vacuum in the south and are attempting to consolidate control over Abyan.

Tribesmen are mobilizing against al Qaeda in Abyan. Abyan’s tribesmen have mobilized against the al Qaeda-linked militants that have overrun the governorate and have begun talks of forming a tribal alliance against the militants. Tribesmen have reportedly cut the supply lines to Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan.U.S. airstrikes hit a militant-controlled police station in Wadyia in Abyan governorate, killing eight militants.

The level of violence in Taiz has increased. Tribesmen ambushed a military convoy, killing a colonel and two of his aides, near Sharab in Taiz governorate. Fighting in Taiz city between Yemen’s elite Republican Guards and tribesmen killed at least two people. Heavy shelling is ongoing in the city.

A resolution to the political crisis in the capital will not end the fragmentation of the Yemeni state. The current situation has increased al Qaeda's operating space in Yemen.