In a significant military development, Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced the complete recapture of the oil-rich Hadramout province following a decisive Saudi-backed operation against separatist forces. The offensive, which culminated on Saturday, successfully displaced fighters aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) from key strategic positions across the southeastern region.
According to statements from Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, government security forces have been directed to secure all state institutions and protect public and private property throughout the reclaimed territory. The state-run Saba news agency confirmed that administration troops have assumed control over all military and security installations within the province.
The provincial capital Mukalla, a critical port city, fell under government control after STC fighters withdrew under sustained aerial bombardment from Saudi warplanes. Military officials reported that troops entered the city without major resistance and immediately began securing government facilities. However, local residents described scenes of chaos and looting at several installations, including Al Rayyan airport, involving both civilians and newly arrived pro-government tribal fighters.
Government forces also reclaimed Seiyun, Hadramout’s second-largest city, approximately one month after its capture by STC forces. Military sources indicated that separatist troops withdrew from Seiyun airport and other key institutions, enabling government forces to establish full control.
In a parallel development, STC forces reportedly withdrew from government institutions in the eastern province of Al-Mahrah without engaging in combat. The Saba agency reported that STC-affiliated units evacuated Ghaydah airport and the presidential palace in the provincial capital, with Governor Al-Alimi tasking local authorities with restoring order and taking control of military camps.
The STC responded to these developments by welcoming Saudi Arabia’s invitation to sponsor a southern dialogue conference, characterizing the initiative as a practical step toward addressing longstanding southern aspirations. The group expressed optimism that this could facilitate “serious dialogue” regarding the future of southern Yemen.
The recent clashes erupted following a government offensive launched on Friday, with hundreds of Saudi-backed troops advancing toward Hadramout to expel STC forces and reassert central government authority. Local sources reported that intensified Saudi airstrikes in support of the operation resulted in more than 20 fatalities and dozens of injuries.
This military confrontation occurred amid the STC’s announcement of a two-year transitional period to administer southern Yemen, to be followed by a referendum on independence. Tensions between the government and the separatist group escalated significantly last month when STC forces seized substantial territory in Hadramout and Al-Mahrah—regions Saudi Arabia considers strategically vital due to their proximity to its border and concentration of Yemen’s remaining energy resources.
Yemen’s complex civil war, ongoing since 2014 when Houthi forces captured the capital Sanaa, has involved multiple factions with competing interests. The UAE-backed STC, formed in 2017 to advocate for southern independence, had nominally joined the Saudi-led coalition and the Presidential Leadership Council in 2022 but maintained persistent disagreements with the central government regarding power-sharing arrangements and control over territory and resources.