The Yemeni government, with Saudi support, says it has reclaimed military sites in Hadramout and Al-Mahra from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). An STC delegation led by Aidarous al-Zubaidi is expected in Riyadh for a peace forum, though timing and details remain unclear. Recent clashes around Mukalla and Barshid left dozens killed and many wounded or detained; the STC has warned it may pursue independence if dialogue fails. Abu Dhabi announced the withdrawal of Emirati forces amid rising tensions with Saudi Arabia.
Yemen: Separatists To Attend Saudi Peace Talks After Losing Key Southern Strongholds
Government soldiers ride on the back of a pick-up truck in the city of Mukalla, as the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government said it had retaken control of the key eastern port and capital of Hadramout province on January 4, 2026 [Stringer via Reuters]
Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia say they have retaken all military sites in the southern governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahra from the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), Yemeni media reported. A delegation led by STC chief Aidarous al-Zubaidi was expected to travel to Riyadh for a Saudi-hosted peace forum, Reuters said, a potential step toward easing a new wave of tensions in the war-torn country.
Recent Clashes and Territorial Changes
Over the past two days STC fighters withdrew from Mukalla, the principal eastern port and the capital of Hadramout. Saudi coalition aircraft struck targets in and around the city last week in a limited operation aimed at cargo and weapons caches, local and international outlets reported.
Local sources who spoke to Al Jazeera Arabic said civilian life in Mukalla is beginning to normalize: shops have reopened and traffic has resumed on city streets.
Casualties, Detentions and Accusations
An STC official told Reuters that at least 80 STC fighters had been killed as of Sunday, with another 152 wounded and about 130 detained. The STC also accused Saudi forces of bombing its positions near the border, saying the strikes killed seven people and wounded 20. An STC military official told AFP that Saudi warplanes carried out "intense" air raids on a camp at Barshid, west of Mukalla.
STC Announcement: While clashes continued, the STC declared the start of a two-year transitional period toward an independent southern state and warned it would proclaim independence "immediately" if dialogue failed or if southern areas were attacked again.
Government Response and Regional Fallout
The internationally recognised Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and Hadramout Governor Salem al-Khanbashi framed recent operations as efforts to "peacefully and systematically" reclaim military and security sites rather than a declaration of war. The government also accused the STC of blocking civilian movement into Aden, calling such restrictions a breach of the Riyadh Agreement meant to govern power-sharing and security arrangements.
Outside Yemen, the crisis has strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi announced a withdrawal of Emirati forces from Yemen late on Friday, as Riyadh moved to convene a peace forum early Saturday where STC representatives were invited to attend.
Outlook
The invitation to Riyadh could open a path to talks between the Yemeni government and the separatists, but timing and agenda remain unclear. Analysts say the outcome will depend on whether the parties can agree on guarantees for security, movement, and political arrangements in the south — and how regional backers, notably Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, manage their differences.
Reporting draws on accounts from Yemeni media, Reuters, Al Jazeera Arabic and AFP; casualty and detention figures were cited by STC officials.
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