Hadramout (South24 Center)

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Military and local sources have reported that the Yemeni Ministry of Defense has begun demobilizing hundreds of soldiers from the Barasheed Brigade. This unit is one of the most prominent military formations that played a pivotal role in expelling Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) from the city of Mukalla, a move that has sparked widespread political and military controversy in Hadramout.

The Barasheed Brigade, also known as the "Martyr Omar Barasheed Brigade," emerged as a key force following the liberation of Mukalla in April 2016. Part of the Second Military District, the brigade was instrumental in stabilizing security on the Hadramout coast and led field operations against extremist strongholds, most notably in the Al-Masini region west of Mukalla.

Soldiers from the brigade told South24 that they were notified of the termination of their service and the suspension of their salaries. Sources indicated that these measures were directed by Presidential Leadership Council member and Hadramout Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi, coinciding with a visit by Defense Minister Lieutenant General Taher Al-Aqili to Mukalla.

According to the sources, the measures affected hundreds of soldiers, the majority of whom hail from Southern governorates such as Lahj, Abyan, and Dhalea. This has led to accusations that the move is politically and regionally motivated, aimed at shifting the balance of power within the military establishment in Hadramout.

Controversy escalated following statements attributed to Defense Minister Al-Aqili, who hails from the Houthi-controlled Amran Governorate, alleging that the Barasheed Brigade belonged to Hadramout "in name only" and that its members "were not from Hadramout." These remarks have been interpreted as a political and administrative prelude to targeting the brigade.

In a direct response, the brigade's leadership denied what it described as "discriminatory discourse," asserting that the formation includes more than 400 fighters from Hadramout alongside personnel from across all Southern governorates "without exception."

The leadership added, in a statement circulated by news outlets, that the recent measures included halting the Saudi incentive salaries for brigade members, depriving approximately 1,500 officers and soldiers of their income. The statement noted that payments continued only for certain members from Hadramout, which the leadership condemned as unacceptable discrimination. The brigade intends to file an official report with the Attorney General and the Military Judiciary to investigate these statements and procedures.

The Barasheed Brigade is regarded as one of the strongest units in the Second Military District. It participated in major operations such as "Black Mountains" and "Al-Faisal" in 2018, which were central to tracking extremist elements and consolidating security control in the region.

Earlier this year, the brigade's headquarters in Mukalla was subjected to Saudi airstrikes due to its status as part of the Southern forces affiliated with the STC. This occurred amid field tensions that eventually led to the deployment of the "Nation's Shield" (Deraa Al-Watan) forces and Northern emergency forces in Hadramout under Saudi supervision.

Observers believe the targeting of this brigade is part of a broader effort to reshape the military balance of power in Hadramout. This is particularly significant given the brigade’s combat symbolism, its security role, and its ties to the military structure formed after AQAP was driven from the coast.

Since 2016, the Hadrami Elite Forces, with UAE support, have played a central role in restoring stability to the Hadramout coast. By building local security structures and executing specialized operations, they significantly curtailed extremist activity and facilitated a return to normalcy in Mukalla and its surrounding areas.