Recapture of Hadhramaut and Mahra By the Saudi-backed Government (Map)
With the support of Saudi air power, the forces of Yemen’s government-in-exile regained control of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra provinces, taking them back from the Southern Transitional Council.
The operation, involving Al-Dara’ Al-Watan forces, armed tribal groups from Hadhramaut, and fighters from the Islah Party, began on Friday, January 3, with Saudi air support. Starting from the Al-Khasha area, they attacked positions of the Southern Transitional Council and advanced toward Al-Qatn in the Hadhramaut valley. By Saturday morning, Al-Qatn and Shibam had fallen to Al-Dara’ Al-Watan, while Southern forces retreated toward the Hadhramaut coast. By Sunday morning, Seiyun and other central districts of Hadhramaut were under government-in-exile control. The forces then moved to Al-Rayyan airbase (previously used by Emirati forces on the Hadhramaut coast) and, after hours of clashes, seized it from the Southern Transitional Council.
During these battles, at least 80 Southern fighters and an unspecified number of Saudi-backed troops were killed, with hundreds more wounded. Both sides have yet to release official casualty figures.
Al-Dera’ Al-Watan forces have since entered Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut, without resistance, taking control of all government and military facilities. They also advanced into Al-Mahra province, seizing Al-Ghaydah city and the port of Nishtun. Their objective is to secure Al-Ghaydah’s city and airport, border crossings, and remove Major General Talib Barjash, commander of the Second Military Region (Al-Mahra and Yemen’s southeastern coast), who recently defected to the Southern Transitional Council and rejected the authority of the Presidential Council of the government-in-exile.
Given the heavy defeat of the Southern Transitional Council in Hadhramaut valley and coastal cities, Al-Mahra is also expected to fall under government-in-exile control soon. Awad bin Al-Wazir Al-Awlaki, governor of Shabwa—previously supportive of Southern forces and backed by the UAE—has now announced cooperation with the Saudi-led coalition to deploy forces in oil-rich areas and military bases.
Overall, the Southern Transitional Council’s “Promising Future” operation collapsed with the UAE’s withdrawal and Saudi determination. The plan to partition southern Yemen has been sidelined. However, the Saudis have invited the Southern Transitional Council to participate in Yemen’s internal dialogue conference in Riyadh, and the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council’s federal plan for Yemen remains on the table. Still, the re-establishment of a separate South Yemen has failed, leaving Aidarus al-Zoubaidi’s efforts fruitless.
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