Hadramout Tribal Alliance accuses Saudi Arabia of betrayal after STC seizes oil fields

HADRAMOUT, Dec. 05 (YPA) -Forces affiliated with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) have seized control of oil fields in Hadramout, following a breakdown of a Saudi-sponsored agreement intended to secure the withdrawal of the Hadramout Tribal Alliance’s Protection Forces.

The agreement, announced late Wednesday, stipulated that Amr bin Habrish, the leader of the Hadramout Tribal Alliance, would remain at his camp with a Saudi guarantee that his forces would not be attacked.

However, the STC forces reportedly attacked Bin Habrish’s troops and took control over the oil company sites after fierce clashes between the two sides.

Tribal sources reported that Bin Habrish’s troops felt they had been betrayed by Saudi Arabia, despite the assurances provided to protect them from attack.

The sources added that Sheikh Amr bin Habrish withdrew from his position as the fighting escalated with the STC forces, which launched a ferocious attack aimed at securing the oil fields.

The sources did not reveal the fate of Sheikh Bin Habrish, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Meanwhile, The Hadramout Tribal Alliance issued a statement to clarify the events, asserting that its forces were moving to implement the agreed-upon terms when they were surprised by a military assault from multiple directions.

The statement blamed the Hadramout Governor, who is loyal to the Saudi-led coalition, and the guarantor, (Saudi Arabia), for what occurred.

@E.Y.M