Tensions escalate in eastern Yemen as STC defies withdrawal amid Saudi-UAE rivalry
HADRAMOUT, Jan. 01 (YPA) – Despite Omani efforts aimed at containing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the occupied provinces of eastern Yemen, amid reports of withdrawal of the UAE-backed “Southern Transitional Council” (STC) and evacuation of camps in Hadhramaut, developments on the ground suggest the opposite.
The positions taken by the STC, combined with sudden Emirati moves, sending reinforcements from the western coast, and direct Saudi escalation, together indicate that Omani mediation is stumbling and failing to curb the rising tensions, with events moving toward a broader military confrontation between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
While the UAE officially announced the withdrawal of its remaining forces from southern Yemen — a move that appeared on the surface to respond to Saudi pressure and the 24-hour deadline set yesterday by Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council — events on the ground suggest a different course. Abu Dhabi has continued its field activities by pushing the STC toward escalation and military confrontation with Saudi forces.
The STC openly rejected Al-Alimi’s decisions, describing them as “unilateral” and lacking constitutional and legal legitimacy, according to its statement.
It also emphasized that the UAE remains a “sincere strategic ally and key partner” of the “southern government forces,” reflecting the extent to which Abu Dhabi is relying on local proxies to compensate for its direct military withdrawal.
Emirati Reinforcements and Provocative Moves
Abu Dhabi appears determined to escalate the military conflict by deploying its armed factions along the western coast. Southern sources reported that columns of the “Al-Amaliqa Brigades” are advancing toward Hadhramaut and Mahra, equipped with advanced weaponry and drones.
In addition, sources indicated that the commander of the so-called Second Military Region held a meeting at Rabwa Camp in Mukalla with the STC’s “Security Committee,” during which he reaffirmed his refusal to withdraw and threatened to confront Saudi-backed forces. This was seen as the main reason behind the Saudi bombing of Rabwa camp with smoke and stun grenades — a direct warning message to the STC and its supporters.
Denial of Withdrawals and Readiness for Confrontation
While the Saudi-backed governor of Hadhramaut, Salem al-Khanbashi, announced that an agreement had been reached with STC factions to withdraw from the province within hours. However, STC military spokesperson Mohammed al-Naqeeb strongly denied the claim on Wednesday evening, stating that STC forces remain fully mobilized and firmly positioned in Hadramout and Mahra, ready to confront what he described as “hostile actions” by Saudi-backed factions, including Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda-linked groups.
The conflicting statements and positions on the ground signal that a broader military confrontation is set to define the next phase.
These developments make clear that Omani mediation has collided with the volatile realities on the ground, as both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi push to establish new spheres of influence in eastern Yemen.
@E.Y.M