Pro-Saudi forces take full control of Yemeni military base

SHABWA, Feb. 15 (YPA) – Pro-Saudi forces have reportedly in recent hours taken full control of a major Yemeni military base near the Arabian Sea in southeastern Yemen.

According to informed sources, units from the Saudi-funded Emergency and Dera al-Watan factions seized the Marra military base, located west of Ataq city, the capital of the oil-rich Shabwa province.

The Marra base is considered Yemen’s second-largest military installation after the Al‑Anad Air Base in Lahj province, reflecting what sources describe as escalating foreign military involvement in southern and eastern Yemen.

Sources said Saudi control followed the withdrawal of UAE forces from the base in January. The site had reportedly served for years as an operational hub for foreign intelligence activities, in what observers describe as a transfer of roles between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi through Salafi-aligned groups.

The sources added that large military reinforcements arrived at the Marra base on Saturday evening, including numerous Saudi trucks and tankers carrying modern military and armored vehicles.

These developments followed a week of violent tensions and armed clashes in Ataq, reportedly linked to ongoing security instability and opposition by factions described as loyal to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), which rejects Saudi influence in Shabwa and other southern provinces.

The Marra base holds strategic importance due to its proximity to key oil fields and the Balhaf LNG terminal of Shabwa.

Some observers interpreted the developments as part of broader efforts to control energy resources and str ategic infrastructure in Yemen.

Shabwa province, which remained under the influence of STC until late 2025, has recently experienced intensified conflict. Analysts cited by the sources link these tensions to wider geopolitical competition over regional waterways and economic assets.