Intelligence official heads Saudi mission to extend oil pipeline through Al-Mahra territory
MAHRA, April 28 (YPA) – The Saudi Special Committee has dispatched the head of the Central State Security apparatus in the Riyadh-backed government, Mohammed Masleh Aydha, to Al-Ghaydah Airport on a military aircraft as part of a new security mission in eastern Yemen, sources familiar with the matter reported.
According to the sources, the mission aims to boost coordination among security agencies and assess overall performance as a preparatory step ahead of planned Saudi infrastructure projects in the region. 
Sources claimed that the visit is linked to preparations for a proposed project to extend oil pipelines from Saudi territory through Yemeni lands toward the Arabian Sea.
Upon arrival at Al-Ghaydah Airport, Aydha reportedly began a series of meetings with local officials and tribal leaders to discuss a new security framework designed to coordinate efforts among coalition- backed armed groups in Al-Mahra Governorate and secure potential project routes.
Sources added that the Aydha’s mission also aims to prepare a detailed assessment of the security situation in the governorate, identify challenges that could affect project implementation, and gauge the positions of influential tribal and social actors regarding the initiative.
Sources added that Aydha attended on Sunday the graduation ceremony of a specialized military training course for Saudi-aligned forces in the Al-Ghaydah axis, which included training on tanks and artillery systems such as mortars. The program is reportedly part of a broader training effort involving coalition-backed forces in the region.
According to the same sources, the arrival of the intelligence official is seen as part of efforts to bolster security coordination in the governorate amid increasing strategic interest in the area.
Sources also noted growing concerns that Al-Mahra Governorate could become a focal point for regional competition due to proposed cross-border infrastructure and energy projects.
Saudi interest in Al -Mahra Governorate and Hadhramaut Governorate has reportedly increased since the early months of the Yemen war in 2015, with aims—according to some regional accounts—linked to long-standing plans to establish an oil pipeline route through Yemeni territory toward the Arabian Sea.
Regional tensions have recently escalated amid heightened conflict between the United States and “Israel” and Iran, including Iranian moves affecting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, according to those accounts. Analysts and sources suggest such developments have renewed discussion around alternative export routes for Gulf oil shipments.
Some reports and activist claims from Al-Mahra and southern governorates have alleged the arrival of shipments carrying large pipeline materials to the region, saying they are connected to Saudi energy infrastructure plans. However, there has been no official confirmation or denial from local authorities or the Saudi-backed government regarding these claims.
The Yemeni government in Sana’a has previously rejected such projects, according to earlier statements.
Saudi activities in Al-Mahra Governorate have reportedly faced long-standing tribal and local resistance, with tribal groups opposing foreign military presence in the area since Saudi forces were deployed near Nishtun Port in late 2017, according to local accounts.
Residents and tribal sources say many in the region view the presence as a violation of national sovereignty, particularly in connection with reported discussions of a potential oil pipeline project through Yemeni territory.
In 2018, tribal groups in Al Mahra Governorate reportedly removed dozens of concrete markers linked to a proposed Saudi oil pipeline route, after monitoring construction activity along border areas inside Yemeni territory. The move contributed to a temporary suspension of the project, according to those accounts.
The same sources say discussions on the project later resurfaced following shifts in local security control, including the consolidation of influence by Saudi-backed “Dera Al-Watan” factions and the reported expulsion of groups affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) from parts of the governorate in late December, alongside unrest in Hadhramaut Governorate.
@E.Y.M