Saudi-backed forces advanced into Hadramawt province on Saturday, seizing Mukalla's main military base and taking control of Seiyun airport amid clashes with UAE-backed separatists. A Saudi-led wave of strikes hit the Al-Khasha camp, which the STC said killed 20 people. Riyadh has called for a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to resolve southern disputes while the STC pursues a two-year transition toward a possible referendum on independence.
Saudi-Backed Forces Seize Mukalla Base as Riyadh–Abu Dhabi Rift Deepens in Yemen
A video grab taken from images released by Aden Independent Channel (AIC TV) shows the moment a strike hits the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Seiyun, in Hadramawt province (-)(-/ADEN INDEPENDENT CHANNEL (AIC TV)/AFP)
Saudi-backed forces advanced into Yemen's oil-rich Hadramawt province on Saturday, seizing key positions including the principal military base in the provincial capital, Mukalla, military officials and journalists reported. The moves mark an escalation in a widening rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which back rival factions in southern Yemen.
Recent Developments
Two military officials aligned with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government told AFP that pro-Saudi forces had taken control of Mukalla's main military base. An AFP correspondent in the city reported gunfire early on Saturday; residents described a breakdown in security even as Saudi-aligned troops appeared to advance with limited resistance.
A separate government official said pro-Saudi units had also captured Seiyun airport, about 160 kilometres (100 miles) northwest of Mukalla, along with several administrative buildings. "We are working to secure them," the official said.
An STC military official confirmed a withdrawal from some areas: "There has been a retreat of our forces and we are resisting the attacking forces in Seiyun." He added that STC units "carried out a complete withdrawal from the areas of Al-Khasha... as a result of pressure from Saudi air strikes on us."
Air Strikes and Casualties
On Friday, a Saudi-led wave of strikes hit the Al-Khasha military camp in Hadramawt. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) said the strikes left 20 people dead; that figure has been reported by the separatists and has not been independently confirmed. Saudi sources also said strikes targeted an alleged Emirati weapons shipment earlier in the week.
Diplomatic Push and Political Stakes
Saudi Arabia urged dialogue among southern factions and called for "a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to bring together all southern factions to discuss just solutions to the southern cause," saying the Yemeni government supported the initiative. The United Arab Emirates also urged parties to "halt escalation and resolve differences through dialogue."
The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council has announced a two-year transitional period toward creating an independent southern state, saying the process would include dialogue and a referendum. STC president Aidarus al-Zubaidi said talks with northern actors, including Iran-backed Houthi rebels, would be part of the transition; he warned the STC could declare independence immediately if negotiations fail or if the south is attacked again.
Wider Context
The Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 to try to dislodge the Houthi rebels from northern Yemen. After a brutal, decade-long civil war, the Houthis remain entrenched in the north while southern factions supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE have increasingly clashed, raising the risk of a split that could further weaken Yemen amid a severe humanitarian crisis.
Attribution: Details in this article draw on statements from military officials, the STC, Saudi and UAE statements, and reporting by AFP. Casualty figures and some operational claims have been provided by involved parties and are not independently verified.
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