Saudi-Backed Forces Take Control of Seiyun in Yemen’s Hadhramaut
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Saudi-affiliated ‘Shield of the Nation’ forces, operating under the Saudi-led coalition command, have fully captured Seiyun in southern Yemen after ousting UAE-supported Southern Transitional Council (STC) fighters. Field sources confirm the security situation has stabilized, with coalition forces now controlling key government and military installations in the strategic city.
Seiyun serves as Hadhramaut’s political and military nerve center, with its control significantly influencing power dynamics across eastern Yemen. The development marks another escalation in the protracted Saudi-Emirati rivalry for dominance in southern Yemen, where both nations back competing factions despite being nominal allies in the coalition fighting Houthi rebels.
The UAE has consolidated its presence in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra through sustained support for STC separatists, creating friction with Saudi Arabia’s preferred local allies. This geopolitical competition has repeatedly delayed political solutions to Yemen’s conflict, complicating international mediation efforts.
