Saudi Arabia rejects the Southern Transitional Council's control over Hadramawt and warns against escalation
Amid the rapidly evolving situation in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has issued a firm and strongly worded message regarding the future of the Hadramawt . Riyadh has categorically rejected any attempts by the Southern Transitional Council to impose its military or administrative control over the governorate, asserting that any unilateral actions at this sensitive time constitute a direct threat to peace efforts and undermine the authority of the legitimate government.
The strategic importance of Hadhramaut and the context of the conflict
Hadhramaut Governorate holds exceptional importance in the Yemeni equation, not only because it is the largest governorate in Yemen by area, but also because of its oil and mineral wealth, its long coastline, and its geographical location bordering Saudi Arabia. Historically, Hadhramaut has maintained a relatively independent political and social weight, largely unaffected by the intense rivalries between North and South. Therefore, any attempt by any party to seize control of it would be a significant blow to the fragile balance existing in the liberated areas.
In this context, the Kingdom stressed the necessity of the Southern Transitional Council forces withdrawing from the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, restoring the situation to its previous state, and handing over security and military responsibilities to the "Homeland Shield" forces. These forces are a regular military formation established by a decision of the Presidential Leadership Council and with the support of the Coalition, to ensure the neutrality of the military establishment and prevent infighting among anti-Houthi factions.
The repercussions of the escalation on the political and economic landscape
Observers believe that the Southern Transitional Council's on expanding eastward could undermine the Riyadh Agreement and the Riyadh consultations that led to the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council. Saudi sources have described these moves as a blatant violation of the agreed-upon frameworks and an attempt to adopt a militia-like approach of imposing a fait accompli by force, similar to the behavior of the Houthi militias, thus threatening unity in confronting the Iranian project in Yemen.
Economically, Yemen cannot afford to open new fronts of conflict in the liberated areas, where Yemeni citizens are already suffering from a sharp decline in the value of the currency and the availability of basic services. Dragging Hadramawt, the economic lifeline of Yemen, into the throes of military conflict will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and derail any efforts at economic recovery or attracting reconstruction investments led by the Kingdom.
The Southern Issue: The Justice of the Demands and the Rejection of Monopoly
While the Kingdom rejects militarization and unilateral control, it has reaffirmed that the “Southern Cause” is a just and central issue in any comprehensive political settlement, and an integral part of the outcomes of the National Dialogue. However, Riyadh clarified that this cause concerns all Southerners across their diverse political and social affiliations, and cannot be reduced to a single faction or specific figures such as Aidarus al-Zubaidi or the Southern Transitional Council alone.
Reports indicate serious violations have accompanied the movements of forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, including arbitrary arrests and raids, which contravene human rights principles and exacerbate public discontent. The Kingdom calls on all parties to exercise restraint and operate within the framework of legitimacy to ensure Yemen's security and regional stability.
