Recent military movements in eastern Yemen are raising concerns about the country’s already fragile political landscape. Saudi Arabia’s foreign Ministry announced Thursday that the Southern Transitional council (STC) took control of areas in Hadramout and Mahra governorates without consulting the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council or the Saudi-led coalition[[1]. These developments threaten to exacerbate fragmentation and instability as various factions compete for power in the ongoing Yemeni conflict.
Published On 25/12/2025
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آخر تحديث: 11:39 (توقيت مكة)
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that military movements in the governorates of Hadramout and Mahra occurred without the approval of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition supporting legitimacy.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry affirmed that efforts are ongoing to restore the situation in Hadramout and Mahra to its previous state.
The ministry stated it is relying on an initiative from the Southern Transitional Council to end the escalation and for its forces to withdraw smoothly and urgently from the eastern governorates of Hadramout and Mahra, which they took control of earlier this month.
The Kingdom added that the Council’s military movements were unilateral and led to “an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of the Yemeni people.”
Meanwhile, the Yemeni government said that stability in Hadramout and Mahra is a priority, and any military movements outside constitutional and institutional frameworks are unacceptable. This statement underscores the fragile political landscape in Yemen.
Control and Tensions
On December 9, the Southern Transitional Council announced it had completed control of the Mahra governorate and Wadi Hadramout in eastern Yemen.
The Council participates in the government, with its president, Eidros Al-Zubaidi, and his deputies Abu Zaraa Al-Mahrami and Faraj Al-Bahsani, holding positions on the Presidential Leadership Council, which consists of a president and eight deputies. The council represents key powers involved in the authority and government currently facing the Houthi group (the Houthis), who have controlled the capital Sana’a and the provinces of northern and western Yemen since 2014.
The Transitional Council’s increased control over Hadramout and Mahra has heightened tensions among the powers and parties forming the legitimate authority, which differ in their goals and projects, compete for influence and control, and possess military forces outside the framework of the Ministry of Defense. These groups have previously been involved in bloody clashes.
