Saudi Arabia seeks to tighten its control over oil fields in Hadramout

HADRAMOUT, Aug. 24 (YPA) – Informed military sources have revealed the upcoming mission of the “Dera Al-Watan” forces funded by Saudi Arabia after they took control of the Al-Wadiah border crossing in Hadramout province, eastern Yemen.

The sources confirmed that Saudi Arabia is in the process of transferring two brigades of Dera Al-Watan forces loyal to the President of the “Presidential Leadership Council,” Rashad Al-Alimi, to tighten its control over the oil fields in the Hadramout plateau after they were surrounded by the militants of the “Hadramout Tribal Alliance” since the beginning of this month, August.

Saudi Arabia had rejected the deployment of the “Hadrami Elite” factions loyal to the UAE in the Hadramout districts to secure the Al-Abr road and the Al-Wadiah crossing during the past months due to political and military considerations, according to the sources.

Hadramout is witnessing a conflict between Saudi Arabia and the UAE by tribal components and armed factions amid Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to control the oil fields following its control of the coastal districts, including Al-Rayyan Airport and Al-Dabbah oil port, since 2016.

It is expected that the UAE will push the “Hadrami Elite factions” to limit the arrival of the “Dera Al-Watan” funded by Saudi Arabia to Mukalla, with the latter’s repeated attempts to find a foothold on the coasts of Hadramout overlooking the Arabian Sea.

YPA