Aden (South24 Center)

Saudi Arabia has escalated its political pressure to push for the withdrawal of the Southern Forces, affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), from the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahra in southeastern Yemen. This comes as Saudi warplanes carried out two airstrikes targeting the Hadrami Elite Forces in Hadramout on Friday.

Saudi Defense Minister, Khalid bin Salman, stated on Saturday (December 27) that Riyadh calls on the STC to respond to Saudi-Emirati mediation efforts, withdraw its forces from camps in Hadramout and Al-Mahra, and hand over the camps to the Saudi-backed Nation's Shield Forces (Deraa al-Watan) and the local authority. 

He stated on the ‘X’ platform that addressing the South Issue must be achieved through dialogue and consensus, and that it will remain present in any comprehensive political settlement in Yemen, as it is a "just political cause that cannot be ignored."

However, these statements were accompanied by a more stringent tone from the Saudi-led Coalition. 

The Coalition spokesperson, Turki Al-Malki, stated that the Coalition "will confront any military movements that violate de-escalation efforts in Hadramout," in a direct reference to the Southern Forces. 

He pointed out that the measures taken are aimed—according to his words—to protect civilians and enable local authorities to exercise their responsibilities. These statements came in parallel with international warnings calling for de-escalation and restraint, including from the US State Department.

Concurrently, an official source in the Yemeni government reported that the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, submitted an official request to the Saudi-led Coalition to take "all military measures" in Hadramout. 

The source added that Al-Alimi held a meeting in the name of the National Defense Council to discuss the developments in Hadramout. However, the meeting was held in the absence of four members of the Presidential Council, as well as the Minister of Defense.

On Friday, Saudi fighter jets launched two strikes targeting sites of the Hadrami Elite Forces in the Ghayl Bin Yamin area of Hadramout governorate, hours after an armed ambush carried out by tribal gunmen linked to Amr bin Habrish. The Southern forces were subjected to the ambush while conducting security operations to secure Wadi Nahb.

Read more at: Saudi Airstrikes Hit Hadramout as STC Stresses Southern Security

In a statement yesterday (December 26), the STC emphasized that the movements of the Southern Forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra came in response to popular demands and security necessities, and were aimed at confronting terrorist organizations and to cut off arms smuggling lines used by the Houthi group. 

The Council expressed its surprise at the Saudi airstrikes that targeted the Hadrami Elite Forces but indicated its openness to any coordination or arrangements based on ensuring the protection of the security and unity of the South and guaranteeing the non-return of security threats. At the same time, it renewed its commitment to the partnership with the Arab Coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The spokesperson for the Southern Armed Forces stated that its "Promising Future" operation has succeeded in clearing vast areas in Wadi Hadramout and Al-Mahra and in cutting off Iranian weapon smuggling lines to the Houthis. 

He warned that any attempt to abort these achievements would serve only the interests of the Houthis and terrorist groups and reintroduce security chaos.

For his part, the leader in the STC, Nasser Al-Khubaji, warned of attempts to mobilize terrorist cells and "lone wolves" to disrupt the security scene in Hadramout.

Meanwhile, military mobilizations continue in Al-Wadiah on the border between Hadramout and Saudi Arabia, as confirmed by informed sources to South24 Center.

The mobilizations included Yemeni tribal elements and forces affiliated with the Yemeni government that were withdrawn from the fronts with the Houthis in Saada.

Informed sources previously told South24 Center that the Nation's Shield Forces had refused Saudi pressure to fight the Southern Forces in Hadramout.