UAE sends veiled message to Saudi Arabia through its proxies in Hadramout

HADRAMOUT, Dec. 01 (YPA) – The UAE sent, on Monday, a veiled and sharp message to Saudi Arabia through its proxies in the Hadramout plateau, using the Southern Transitional Council (STC) as an open and provocative channel, in a scene reflecting the escalating covert conflict between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over the oil-rich Hadramout plateau in eastern Yemen

 

The message came via Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, advisor to the UAE president, who appeared in a tweet on the X platform, offering greetings and thanks to the STC factions, whom he described as “brothers of South Arabia,” in a clear reference to the proxies loyal to his country in southern Yemen.

 

The provocative spark was not only in the tweet itself, but also in the accompanying image which showed giant banner erected in one of Hadramout’s streets, which the STC designated as “Martyrs of the Emirates Street.”

 

A move described as a political message to Saudi Arabia more than a tribute to the victims of the UAE’s factions and proxies.

 

Observers believe that Abu Dhabi is trying, through this message, to remind everyone who holds the reins of power in the eastern oil plateau, at a time when Saudi Arabia is engaged in frantic efforts to repel the expansion of Emirati-backed factions towards its western border with Yemen.

 

Hadramout has been witnessing unprecedented military turmoil for days, with Saudi and Emirati reinforcements in a frantic race to control the oil-rich plateau.

 

On Sunday, the latest chapter in the confrontation erupted when the Saudi-backed Hadramout Tribal Alliance repelled an attack launched by UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) factions, who attempted to regain their positions on the plateau after losing them last Saturday in an attack by the Hadramout Tribal Alliance.