Rashad al‑Alimi warned that further advances by the Southern Transitional Council into Hadramout and al‑Mahra would have serious consequences after a surprise December offensive. The STC has rejected withdrawal demands and announced additional deployments in Hadramout. Saudi forces struck shipments to Mukalla, accusing the UAE of supplying the separatists — a charge Abu Dhabi denies. The EU urged de‑escalation and reaffirmed support for Yemen's unity.
Yemen: STC Defies Withdrawal in Hadramout and al‑Mahra, Raising Saudi Security Concerns
Smoke rises in the aftermath of a Saudi-led coalition air strike on Yemen's southern port of Mukalla on December 30, 2025 [File: SABAA TV/Handout via Reuters]
Tensions in Yemen are rising after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) rejected calls to withdraw from Hadramout and al‑Mahra provinces near the Saudi border. Rashad al‑Alimi, head of the internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council, warned that further unilateral advances by the STC would have serious consequences.
The warning followed a surprise December offensive that allowed STC forces to seize control of resource‑rich areas in both provinces. Riyadh has accused the United Arab Emirates of encouraging the STC and warned that the separatists' presence along the Saudi frontier poses a threat to its national security. Abu Dhabi denies these allegations and says it supports Saudi security.
Despite the pressure, the STC has rejected al‑Alimi's authority and insisted its fighters will remain in place. On Wednesday evening the group announced a new agreement to deploy additional separatist forces to areas it controls in Hadramout, a move that further entrenches its position. Neither the Yemeni government nor Saudi Arabia issued an immediate official response to that announcement.
STC Statement and Coordination Claim
Mohammed al‑Naqeeb, an STC spokesperson, posted a video on X saying the group's units would continue to operate in the seized areas. He added that their operations would be coordinated with the "Homeland Shield" forces affiliated with the Yemeni government and the Saudi‑led coalition, a claim that has not been independently verified.
Local Officials Warn of Violence
Hadramout's governor, Salem al‑Khanbashi, told Al Jazeera Arabic that the STC's response to official demands for withdrawal had been limited. He urged the separatists to pull back to their original positions to avoid bloodshed, warning that continued defiance risks plunging the province into violence.
Saudi Strikes on Shipments to Mukalla
On Tuesday the Saudi‑led coalition said it conducted air strikes on weapons and military vehicles after two ships arrived at the port of Mukalla from Fujairah. Mukalla is currently under STC control. Saudi authorities described their national security as a "red line" and accused the UAE of sending the military equipment to the STC—an allegation Abu Dhabi rejects.
In response to the controversy, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the claims "allegations" and later announced the end of the remaining missions of its counterterrorism teams in Yemen.
Regional Concerns and International Appeal
The STC, which advocates secession for southern Yemen, launched its most recent operations in early December and has so far ignored repeated local and regional calls to withdraw. The European Union warned that developments in Hadramout and al‑Mahra risk sparking wider instability across the Gulf and urged de‑escalation while reaffirming support for Yemen's unity and the Presidential Leadership Council.
Outlook: With competing claims and troop movements near an international border, the risk of miscalculation is high. Diplomatic pressure from regional and international actors will be critical to avoid further escalation.
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