Yemen’s Hadhramaut Officials Ready to Act Against UAE-Backed Elements
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, officials in Yemen‘s Hadhramaut province announced plans to coordinate with Saudi-aligned forces to seize control of key military installations. They emphasized the need for a secure and peaceful transfer of military responsibilities, while endorsing the Presidential Leadership Council’s decision to terminate the joint defense agreement with the UAE and expel its forces from Yemen.
Earlier, Rashad Al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, condemned the UAE’s increasing support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and its alleged role in fueling unrest. He announced new measures to protect civilians and restructure participation within the Saudi-led coalition, declaring a 90-day state of emergency and a 72-hour halt to port activities. Al-Alimi also ordered Yemeni forces to secure all military centers in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra provinces.
The remarks followed a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on the port of Al-Mukalla, a UAE-backed stronghold in Hadhramaut. Tensions between UAE and Saudi-backed factions have escalated in eastern and southern Yemen, prompting U.S. concerns over the widening rift. Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra have become focal points of competition, with the UAE-supported STC gaining control of oil-rich areas, drawing Saudi demands for withdrawal to de-escalate tensions.
The STC, formed in 2017 with direct UAE support, has long clashed with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, resulting in repeated armed confrontations in Aden and other southern regions.
