Aden (South24 Center)

The command of the 5th Support and Reinforcement Brigade of the Southern Armed Forces announced on Wednesday (December 24), the seizure of four illegal facilities used for refining, extraction, and smuggling of oil derivatives in the Al-Khashaa area of Wadi Hadramout. This operation marks one of the biggest announced crackdowns on activities described by authorities as draining public resources and fueling black markets.

The brigade command stated that the seized stations were operating outside legal frameworks and were owned by influential figures from northern governorates. It confirmed the arrest of workers at the sites and said all those involved have been referred to the competent authorities to complete investigations and take the necessary legal measures.

#BREAKING

Translated video: The Southern Forces uncover one of the largest oil smuggling operations from Hadramout — “involving an influential figure from northern Yemen.”#south24 pic.twitter.com/75XqvkoUEp

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 24, 2025

Officers in the brigade command added that the illicit activities were being managed through smuggling networks operating away from any official oversight. 

These operations included excavations and fuel tanks concealed underground used to collect crude oil, which was then transported to rudimentary refining stations, where it was processed, loaded, and transported under cover of night to black markets. 

They pointed out that these networks employed complex camouflage methods to evade detection, taking advantage of the vastness of the valley and the desert nature of the region.

The officers emphasized that halting these practices and holding those involved accountable is a necessary step to protect national resources and prevent the exploitation of Hadramout's wealth. 

They noted that ongoing investigations could reveal a wider scope of the involved networks, including the funding, transportation, and marketing channels, thereby contributing to curbing the recurrence of such activities in the future.

In a parallel judicial track, an official source in the Public Prosecution stated that the Attorney General, Judge Qaher Mustafa, directed on the same day the Head of the Public Funds Prosecution in Hadramout Governorate to open a comprehensive and urgent investigation into the activities of the unlicensed oil refineries discovered in the Al-Khashaa area.

The source explained that the Attorney General's directives emphasized expanding the scope of the investigation to include operators, financiers, supporters, and those providing cover, in addition to any public official or entity proven to be involved, negligent, or facilitating these activities. 

The source noted that these activities are considered serious crimes due to the direct damage they cause to the national economy and public funds, as well as their significant risks to public safety, the environment, and citizens' health.

These developments come within a broader security context witnessed in the Wadi and Desert regions of Hadramout since early December. The region was previously under the control of northern brigades affiliated with the First Military District. 

On December 3, the Southern Armed Forces announced the expulsion of those forces following launching of the "Promising Future" operation. The operation, according to the forces, aimed to reorganize the military and security situation, establish control over vital sites, and prevent the exploitation of resources outside official frameworks.