Southern Transitional Council Fighters Advance into Northern Hadhramaut, Capture Seiyun; Clashes Halted by Saudi Mediation
After a period of tension and power struggles between Southern Transitional Council (STC) fighters, Hadhramaut tribes, and Islah Party elements, the southerners—backed by the UAE—launched an operation yesterday under the name “Promising Future” to seize northern areas of Hadhramaut province. They marched toward Seiyun and swiftly took control of all military bases in Wadi Hadhramaut and key sites including Seiyun, the provincial capital, with minimal resistance.
Following the STC’s takeover of Hadhramaut’s administrative center and surrounding areas, STC representatives and Hadhramaut tribal leaders reached an agreement through the mediation of a Saudi security‑military delegation. The talks focused on safeguarding oil fields and negotiating toward a comprehensive settlement.
Under the deal, military tensions between the sides will cease starting Thursday morning, with a ceasefire in place until the mediation committee concludes its work and a full agreement is reached. All fighters under the Saudi‑led coalition must withdraw at least one kilometer from oil facilities, allowing personnel and security forces free movement. Once withdrawals are implemented, meetings between al‑Khanbashi and Amr bin Habreesh will be held to finalize the settlement under mediator supervision.
The Hadhramaut confrontation appeared to end with the Southern Transitional Council expanding its influence in occupied Yemeni territories, Saudi interests secured in the oil‑rich areas, and tribal leaders brought under control. Yet it left behind important lessons.
The first was the defeat of the Islah Party in Hadhramaut, which showed that Saudi Arabia places little value on them, limiting cooperation to countering Ansarallah and holding populous, religiously sensitive cities such as Marib and Taiz. The second was the strengthening of STC military power, now equipped with new weapons including drones and micro‑drones, aligned with UAE objectives.
Behind the STC’s success in Wadi Hadhramaut lay support from Tariq Saleh’s forces, the Giants Brigades, and Shabwa Defense units, which allowed southern forces to fully concentrate on northern Hadhramaut while these allies managed other areas until the clashes ended. This scenario could also be replicated against Ansarallah positions, potentially delivering significant blows to the central government’s authority in Sanaa.
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