Armed Clashes Erupt Near Al‑Ghuraf in Hadramout
Local sources reported heavy fighting on Wednesday between the Yemeni army, loyal to the internationally recognised government, and forces of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) as the separatist group attempted to advance toward the strategically located al‑Ghuraf area in oil‑rich Hadramout governorate.
Videos shared by local activists showed STC fighters entering the presidential palace building in the city of Seiyun following clashes with army units. Sources said STC forces had deployed in the Jathma area of the Seiyun plateau before they shelled the Yemeni army headquarters in the city centre.
Local media described Wadi Hadramout as the scene of large‑scale military operations since Wednesday morning, with sustained artillery fire accompanying the fighting.
STC Statement: The group described the offensive as part of an operation called "Promising Future," saying it "follows the exhaustion of all options proposed in recent years to restore stability to the valley, end the state of security breakdown, and halt the exploitation of the region by forces alien to the valley and the governorate."
A Saudi delegation has reportedly been mediating to halt the fighting in Hadramout and has claimed to have reached a settlement with the opposing parties, though local reports indicate tensions remain high on the ground.
Context
Yemen has been fragmented by decades of civil war and foreign interference. The Houthi movement, which is widely described as Iran‑aligned, controls much of the densely populated northwest and the capital, Sanaa, and operates a parallel administration there.
Although the main front between the Houthis and the internationally recognised government has been relatively static in recent periods, the Houthis drew heightened international attention after they carried out attacks on Israel and strikes on shipping in the Red Sea following the escalation of the Israel–Gaza conflict in October 2023. In response to Houthi actions, the United States and Israel have conducted strikes in and around Sanaa; local reports say some strikes have killed dozens of civilians and political figures.
This latest flare‑up in Hadramout underscores the fragility of security in southern Yemen and the continuing risk that local disputes could escalate into wider clashes across the country.
