The governor of Hadramawt launches an operation to take over positions held by the Southern Transitional Council: details and implications
In a significant development in the military and political landscape of eastern Yemen, the governor of Hadramawt, Mabkhout bin Madhi, launched a military operation aimed at taking control of several sites and security checkpoints previously held by forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council. This move comes as part of the local authority's efforts to unify military and security command and assert state authority in the country's largest oil-rich province.
Context of the event and details of the military operation
Field sources indicate that the governor has directed the deployment of security and military units affiliated with the local authority and the provincial security committee to take control of key locations. These moves aim to end the duplication of security responsibilities that has plagued some districts within the province and to ensure that all military formations operate under a unified command center reporting to the provincial higher security committee.
Historical background of the conflict in Hadhramaut
Hadhramaut Governorate has been characterized by a complex situation since the outbreak of war in Yemen, with several forces vying for control. Military influence has traditionally been divided between the First Military Region (covering the Hadhramaut Valley and desert) and the Hadhrami Elite Forces (which control the Hadhramaut coast and are supported by the coalition). Recent times have witnessed escalating tensions between the Southern Transitional Council, which seeks to extend its influence across the entire south, including the Hadhramaut Valley, and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government.
Governor Bin Madhi’s move comes as an attempt to “Hadhramautize” the security file, that is, to keep the administration of the governorate in the hands of its people, away from the conflict between the north and the south, an approach that the local authority has tried to establish in order to spare the governorate the horrors of internal fighting.
Strategic and economic importance
This event cannot be understood in isolation from the strategic importance of Hadramawt, which represents the lifeblood of the Yemeni economy due to its major oil fields and the Al-Dhaba port for crude oil exports. Any change in the military landscape within the governorate directly impacts the stability of energy supplies and the state's sovereign resources. Therefore, the takeover of positions by the Southern Transitional Council carries profound political implications regarding who controls the resources and decision-making in this sensitive region.
Expected impacts locally and regionally
Domestically, this move could ease tensions if the forces are integrated into official state structures, or it could lead to renewed escalation if the Southern Transitional Council perceives it as an attack on its existence. Regionally, the Arab Coalition countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are closely monitoring these developments. Riyadh, through the formation of the "Homeland Shield Forces" and its support for the local authority, seeks to create a balance of power that ensures the stability of the border province and prevents any single political faction from gaining complete control, thus enhancing the prospects for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen based on agreed-upon frameworks.
