Mukalla (South24)

In his first response to the withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates’ counterterrorism forces from Yemen, as well as the Southern Transitional Council’s pullout of its forces from Hadramout Governorate, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula AQAP, Saad al-Din al-Awlaki, on Saturday (January 3) expressed the group’s satisfaction with the move.

Saad al-Din al-Awlaki said in a post circulated by the group’s media platform Al-Malahim that “today, in ‘our Yemen,’ an idol of polytheism, disbelief, and misguidance has been shattered.”

Saudi-backed northern forces have entered several areas of Hadramout Governorate, including Nation Shield Forces—some of whose brigades are from the south—as well as Emergency Brigades, a northern force that had been stationed along the Saudi border in Saada Governorate.

A source in the Southern Transitional Council said it had redeployed its forces in Hadramout to avoid further bloodshed resulting from Saudi airstrikes.

The Southern Transitional Council had taken control of Hadramout and Al-Mahra on December 2 as part of Operation “Promising Future,” aimed at securing the governorate from terrorist groups and cutting off smuggling networks linked to the Houthi militia.

Al-Awlaki added that “tomorrow, God willing, the fire of the Magi will be extinguished in what remains of our beloved Yemen,” apparently referring to the Houthis.

Accounts affiliated with Al-Qaeda published footage documenting what they described as “locals” taking control of weapons depots at a facility in Arayyan airport previously used by Southern forces.

Al-Qaeda had earlier threatened to confront Southern forces that entered Hadramout in early December.

On Suterday, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced the completion of the withdrawal of all its armed forces from the Republic of Yemen, including counterterrorism units.

Observers warned that the move could represent a setback to international counterterrorism efforts that had been led by the UAE alongside Southern forces in Yemen, which had recently achieved significant successes.

Al-Qaeda had taken control of Mukalla and the Hadramout coast on April 16, 2015, including the airport and the port, before Southern forces, with Emirati support, succeeded in liberating the city in April 2016.

Among the brigades that played a key role in successfully protecting Hadramout from Al-Qaeda was the Barshid Brigade, which was subjected to a heavy Saudi airstrike at dawn on Saturday January 3, 2026.