Saudi Arabia urges the Southern Transitional Council to withdraw from Hadramawt and Al-Mahra
Informed sources reported that Saudi Arabia has urgently called on the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to immediately withdraw its forces and personnel from specific locations in the Hadramawt and Al-Mahra governorates. These moves are part of the Kingdom's efforts, as the leader of the Arab Coalition, to de-escalate tensions in the eastern governorates and ensure the stability of liberated areas, serving the best interests of the Yemeni people and unifying ranks in the face of current challenges.
Within the context of the Riyadh Agreement and the Presidential Leadership Council,
these developments are an extension of efforts to implement the 2019 Riyadh Agreement, which stipulated the integration of military and security formations under the umbrella of the Ministries of Defense and Interior of the legitimate Yemeni government. Despite the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council in April 2022 with the aim of unifying all anti-Houthi forces, tensions occasionally surface due to competition for influence in the southern and eastern regions. Through this directive, Riyadh seeks to prevent any military escalation that could derail efforts to restore the state and end the Houthi coup.
The strategic importance of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra:
The governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra hold paramount strategic and economic importance in the Yemeni landscape, making them a focal point for political and military rivalries. Hadramawt is the largest governorate in Yemen by area and contains the most important oil fields and natural resources, in addition to representing significant social and historical weight. As for Al-Mahra, it is Yemen's eastern gateway and shares the longest border with the Sultanate of Oman, making its stability vital for regional security and for securing land and sea routes.
Regional and international
observers view the Saudi intervention at this time as a necessary step to maintain the cohesion of the legitimate government's internal front. Continued tension in the east could create security gaps that extremist groups or the Houthi militia could exploit to destabilize areas that have remained relatively untouched by the direct conflict. Furthermore, the international community strongly supports the Kingdom's efforts to establish stability in southern Yemen, considering it a prerequisite for the success of any comprehensive political peace process in the country. These moves underscore the Arab Coalition's commitment to ensuring that the focus remains on the main battle and that sovereign institutions remain free from factional conflicts.
