Abyan

Abyan is a governorate of Yemen. The Abyan region was historically part of the Fadhli Sultanate.It was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army militant group.Its capital is the city of Zinjibar. This governorate is noted for its agriculture, in particular the cultivation of date palms and animal husbandry.Abyan Governorate borders Shabwa Governorate to the east, Aden Governorate and Lahij Governorate to the west, Shabwa Governorate and Al Bayda Governorate to the north, and the Arabian Sea to the south.

In addition to Zinjibar, the towns of Jaar and Shuqrah were firmly under the control of the Islamists.In early May 2012 the Yemeni Army and Southern Resistance began a major offensive to wrest control of the province from militants. Government forces captured Zinjibar and Jaar on 12 June after a month of heavy fighting. Militants reportedly retreated towards the town of Shuqrah.In 2017, a military campaign led by Southern security forces and Southern resistance could free Abyan from the Islamist militants who escaped to their mountains in Al Bayda and Ma’rib governorates.