ISLAMABAD: Yemen’s volatile southern landscape faces a critical turningpoint as Saudi-backed internationally recognised government forces gear upfor a significant operation in Hadramout province to reclaim militarypositions seized by the United Arab Emirates-supported SouthernTransitional Council (STC). The announcement by Hadramout’s Saudi-alignedgovernor on January 02, 2026, described the move as a “peaceful operation”aimed at restoring control over key bases without declaring war, yet itfollows weeks of intense rivalry that has exposed deep fractures within theanti-Houthi coalition. This development comes after the STC’s rapidDecember 2025 offensive captured vast territories, including oil-richareas, prompting Saudi airstrikes and the UAE’s partial troop withdrawal,raising fears of renewed civil strife in a nation already fractured by adecade-long war.
The governor, appointed with expanded authority over security and militaryaffairs in the province, emphasised that the initiative seeks to neutralisethreats from camps potentially used to undermine stability and preventHadramout from descending into chaos. Armoured vehicles fromgovernment-aligned forces have reportedly moved towards major sites likethe Al-Khash’a camp, one of the largest in the region, which the STCoverran last month. This positioning underscores a deliberate effort toreclaim strategic assets peacefully, though reports indicate seven Saudiairstrikes targeted STC positions shortly after the declaration,highlighting the operation’s tense backdrop. The governor’s framing asnon-escalatory aims to preserve civilian safety while addressing whatRiyadh views as a direct challenge to its national security interests alongthe shared border.
Hadramout, Yemen’s largest governorate and home to nearly 80 per cent ofthe country’s oil reserves, has become the epicentre of shifting alliances.The STC’s “Operation Promising Future” in early December saw swift gainswith minimal resistance, as government units often withdrew, allowing theseparatists to control key facilities such as PetroMasila, the nation’slargest oil company. These advances extended into neighbouring al-Mahra,bringing STC influence close to Saudi Arabia and Oman borders. Saudiofficials have repeatedly described the STC’s presence as crossing a “redline,” accusing the UAE of arming the group and directing its expansion,claims Abu Dhabi has denied while announcing the pullout of remainingcounterterrorism units following coalition strikes on alleged weaponsshipments at Mukalla port.
The underlying rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both originalarchitects of the 2015 coalition against the Iran-backed Houthis, hasintensified dramatically. Riyadh backs the Presidential Leadership Counciland local tribal alliances in Hadramout, while Abu Dhabi has long supportedthe STC’s separatist agenda for an independent South Yemen, echoing thepre-1990 division. The STC, ostensibly part of the unity government since2022 power-sharing deals, has increasingly acted independently, rejectingwithdrawal calls and vowing to defend its positions. Spokespersons for thegroup have placed forces on full alert, warning of forceful responses toany aggression, further complicating de-escalation efforts mediated by bothGulf powers.
This power struggle threatens the fragile 2022 UN-brokered truce thathalted major Houthi-front fighting, diverting attention from northernthreats and risking broader instability. The STC’s territorial control nowencompasses most of former South Yemen, including ports, islands and oilinfrastructure, potentially enabling it to push for secession despitelacking broad international recognition. Analysts note that continuedescalation could fragment anti-Houthi unity, embolden the Houthis and deterinternational aid, exacerbating Yemen’s humanitarian crisis amid economicpressures like halted oil production and service disruptions.
The operation’s success hinges on avoiding widespread clashes, as bothsides claim defensive postures. Government statements stress targeting onlymilitary sites to restore order, while the STC portrays its gains asprotecting southern interests against external interference. With armoredmovements and airstrikes already reported, the coming days will testwhether diplomacy can prevail over military confrontation in Hadramout,where local tribes, historical ties to Saudi Arabia and resource wealthmake any shift profoundly consequential for Yemen’s future unity andregional Gulf dynamics.
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Source:https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-envoy-says-leader-yemen-separatist-group-stc-blocked-delegations-aden-2026-01-02/
Tags: Yemen, Hadramout, Southern Transitional Council, Saudi Arabia, UnitedArab Emirates
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