Saudi Arabia warns against the Southern Transitional Council's movements in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its firm stance against the recent military and security operations undertaken by the Southern Transitional Council in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, describing them as "unilateral actions" carried out without coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council or the knowledge of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen. These statements come at a sensitive time in the Yemeni crisis, as international and regional actors seek to solidify the ceasefire and advance a comprehensive political solution.
Context of events and strategic importance
The governorates of Hadramawt and Al Mahrah hold paramount strategic and geographical importance on the Yemeni map. They constitute the strategic depth of the liberated areas and possess significant economic resources, in addition to their direct borders with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. From this perspective, the Kingdom has exerted persistent and concerted efforts to support stability in these two governorates, aiming to spare them the ravages of inter-state military conflicts and instead focus on development and supporting peaceful solutions that serve the Yemeni people.
Observers believe that any tension in these eastern regions could distract from efforts to address the fundamental challenges facing the Yemeni state and weaken the cohesion of the internal front opposing the Houthi project.
Efforts to contain the situation and joint coordination
In an effort to contain the situation and prevent it from descending into chaos, Riyadh worked in close coordination with its brothers in the United Arab Emirates and the Presidential Leadership Council to address these transgressions. These efforts culminated in the dispatch of a joint team to make the necessary arrangements with the Southern Transitional Council, ensuring the immediate withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps and vital sites to the "Homeland Shield" forces, which were formed by presidential decree to serve as a bulwark of legitimacy and stability.
Risks of escalation and exceeding established frameworks
Despite repeated Saudi calls for the Southern Transitional Council to prioritize the national interest and maintain civil peace, the continued escalation reflects a dangerous disregard for the consequences. The Kingdom views these unilateral actions as a blatant violation of the transitional phase framework and a direct undermining of the internationally recognized legitimate government.
Attempting to circumvent legal and political frameworks and adopting a policy of imposing a fait accompli brings to mind the Houthi militias’ approach to dealing with the state, which threatens to undermine the entire political process in Yemen.
The Southern Issue and the Future of Peace
In a related context, the Kingdom reiterated its position that the Southern issue is a just and pivotal one, and cannot be bypassed in any future political settlement, as it is an integral part of the outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue. However, Riyadh emphasized that this issue belongs to the people of the South in all their diversity and cannot be reduced to the person of Aidarus al-Zubaidi or have its representation limited to the Southern Transitional Council alone.
The Kingdom continues to provide comprehensive political, economic and developmental support to the President of the Presidential Leadership Council and his legitimate government, stressing that the only way to achieve security and prosperity for the Yemeni people lies in rejecting side disputes and working collectively to move from the stage of conflicts to the stage of construction and economic integration.
