Al-Mukalla (South24)

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The Hadrami Elite Forces deployed significant military reinforcements on Sunday November 30, to the Al-Adwas camp in Al-Masila district to break the siege imposed on Corporate Security Forces inside the oil sectors, amid rising tensions in Hadramout - one of South Yemen’s most important oil-producing regions.

In a statement, the Second Military Region said the newly deployed force includes units and brigades comprised entirely of Hadrami personnel. It added that the reinforcements aim to support troops stationed at PetroMasila facilities, which have faced “siege and obstruction” hindering their mission to protect oil companies. The command stressed that the deployed forces are acting with “maximum restraint” and are keen to avoid clashes with any local components.

The escalation follows Saturday’s takeover of Sectors 14 and 53 by armed groups affiliated with tribal leader Amr bin Habrish after limited clashes with Corporate Security Forces, according to local reports. The groups have positioned themselves in military posts responsible for guarding some of the country’s most strategic state-owned oil fields.

The armed advances have fueled concerns over further deterioration of electricity services - already suffering from prolonged outages - after fuel tankers were prevented from reaching power stations. Residents say the situation has worsened their hardship, given the province’s reliance on oil-sector fuel supplies to maintain minimal power stability.

The Second Military Region condemned the developments as a “dangerous escalation” that targets key national assets, noting it will take “necessary measures” to safeguard oil fields and public property.

Hadramout’s prosecution office issued compulsory arrest warrants for leaders of the armed groups, including Bin Habrish and Mubarak al-Ubaithani.

Bin Habrish did not comment on the reported arrest warrants, though a statement attributed to his group on Saturday claimed their takeover of the oil company sites was intended to “protect” them.

These events unfold amid political shifts in Hadramout, including the appointment of Khaled Al-Kathiri as the new head of the Hadramout Tribes Alliance, succeeding Bin Habresh, and the appointment of Salem Al-Khanbashi as governor, replacing Mabkhout bin Madi. Presidential Leadership Council member Faraj Al-Bahsani warned that the province is entering its “most dangerous phase” in decades, condemning the armed raid on PetroMasila and asserting that “no unauthorized tribal groups are permitted to provide security for oil facilities.”

The current unrest has heightened fears of deepening Yemen’s economic crisis, especially since the country’s oil exports - which once formed the bulk of government revenue - have been fully halted since the Houthi attacks on export terminals in Hadramout and Shabwa in late 2022.

Thousands of people celebrated the anniversary of South Yemen's independence on Sunday, November 30, 2025 (Photo: South24 Center)

In Seiyun, north of Al-Mukalla, thousands of Hadrami residents gathered to mark the 58th anniversary of South Yemen’s independence.

A South24 correspondent who attended the event reported that First Military Region forces, aligned with the Islah Party, blocked thousands from reaching the celebration site and deployed armored vehicles and military trucks across several neighborhoods.

Protesters called on the Hadrami Elite Forces and Southern forces to protect civilians in Seiyun and Wadi Hadramout, demanding what they described as the “liberation” of the valley from northern forces, according to video footage published by South24 Center.

A statement issued at the event called for extending the authority of the Hadrami Elite Forces across the entire province and allocating its resources to serve the local population.