ADEN, Yemen (AP) Saudi-backed forces have expanded their presence in Yemen's Mukalla following a successful operation to retake the port city from southern separatists last month. The capital of Hadramout province was reclaimed by Yemen's internationally recognized government after a series of Saudi airstrikes.
Video footage obtained by The Associated Press showed the National Shield Forces, allied with Saudi Arabia, being welcomed by local residents as they drove through the streets of Mukalla in armed vehicles. Troops were also observed patrolling around al-Rayyan Airport, highlighting the strategic importance of the area.
Residents of nearby Hadramout towns, including Ahmed Samaan from al-Qatn and Bakr al-Ketheri from Seiyun, stated that the Emirati-supported Southern Transitional Council (STC) had withdrawn from their military camps. This recent withdrawal followed heightened tensions after the STC had moved into Hadramout and Mahra governorates, claiming control over an oil-rich region that resulted in the ousting of National Shield Forces, who are part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
As the civil war in Yemen continues, the Houthis maintain control of much of the north, while the Saudi-led coalition supports the internationally recognized government in the south. However, the United Arab Emirates, also a coalition member, has provided backing to the separatists, leading to complex and competing interests within the region.
On Saturday, Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, stated on Facebook that the National Shield Forces had recorded significant successes in reclaiming all military and security sites within Hadramout. Concurrently, the Yemeni government appointed Salem al-Khanbashi as the new commander of Saudi-led forces in the governorate.
Al-Alimi contacted Mohamed Ali Yasser, the governor of Mahra, to inquire about the progress of transferring military camps and facilities to National Shield Forces and local authorities. However, it remained unclear whether this transfer had been finalized.
In response to the escalating situation, the southern separatists reported that Saudi airstrikes on Saturday targeted a military camp in Mukalla as well as other areas where their forces were stationed. In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has intensified its air operations, bombing STC positions and aims to dismantle supplies of Emirati arms in the region. Following Saudi pressures and an ultimatum, the UAE declared its intent to withdraw its forces from Yemen.
This military escalation has further strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, neighboring countries on the Arabian Peninsula, which have historically competed in economic and regional political arenas, particularly concerning the Red Sea area. Despite their military alliance under the coalition, the two countries have displayed increasing friction over their strategic objectives in Yemen.
In light of these developments, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to host a conference in Riyadh aimed at uniting southern factions in Yemen to discuss a resolution to their political issues. The STC welcomed this initiative, seeing it as a rational approach to address the rights and aspirations of the people of the south to restore their state.
Details regarding the conference are still vague, but the announcement follows a request for dialogue from Al-Alimi, underscoring the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution amidst the ongoing conflict.
