Saudi-Led Coalition Warns UAE-Backed Mercenaries in Yemen Amid Escalating Tensions
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Saudi-led coalition (against Yemen’s Ansarullah) has warned UAE-backed mercenaries in Hadhramaut province against military movements that could heighten tensions in Yemen. The coalition’s spokesperson emphasized that such actions would be met with a firm response.
The spokesperson accused the Southern Transitional Council (STC) elements, backed by the UAE, of committing horrific violations against civilians in Hadhramaut and demanded their immediate withdrawal from the province. The coalition reiterated its support for Yemen’s (self-proclaimed) government.
Recent Saudi airstrikes targeting UAE-backed mercenary positions in Hadhramaut have provoked retaliatory actions. Clashes between Saudi forces and UAE-backed mercenaries in eastern and southern Yemen have intensified over recent weeks, prompting even the U.S. to express concern over the growing rift between these factions.
Hadhramaut and Al Mahra provinces in eastern Yemen have become focal points of competition between UAE-backed mercenaries and Saudi forces. The STC, supported by the UAE, has seized control of oil-rich areas, drawing strong reactions from Saudi Arabia, which has called for the withdrawal of STC forces from these regions to de-escalate tensions.
Formed in 2017 with direct UAE support, the STC has had deep-rooted disputes with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, leading to repeated armed clashes in Aden and other southern regions. In recent years, as Saudi Arabia’s direct role in Yemen’s war has diminished and Riyadh-Abu Dhabi tensions have grown, the STC has emerged as a dominant force in southern Yemen.
