Saudi Coalition Warns UAE Backed Southern Council Over Hadramout Moves

The Saudi led Arab coalition said on December 27 that it would take immediate action to counter any military moves by the UAE backed Southern Transitional Council in Hadramout that undermined de escalation efforts or threatened civilians. The announcement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, came after an emergency meeting convened by Rashad al Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, who told the coalition that STC movements posed "serious violations against civilians."

Coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Turki al Maliki delivered the warning and framed it as a protection of civilians and a defense of de escalation. "Any military movements that violate these efforts will be dealt with directly and immediately in order to protect civilian lives and ensure the success of restoring calm," he said in the statement. The coalition said its Joint Forces Command had swiftly approved the government request following recommendations from Yemen's National Defence Council.

In its public statement the coalition accused elements affiliated with the STC of "serious and horrific human rights violations against civilians," an allegation that the coalition did not provide evidence for in the announcement. The coalition demanded the withdrawal of STC forces from two governorates reported in coverage as Hadramout and Mahra, the return of local authorities to oversee those governorates and the handover of STC military camps to local or state authorities.

The warning arrived amid reports that Saudi aircraft struck STC positions early on Friday, a claim sourced to STC statements and Reuters reporting that cited STC sources. Riyadh and the coalition had not confirmed those strikes at the time of the December 27 announcement. STC statements said two fighters from its elite Hadrami forces were killed and described the strikes as "surprising," while warning they would not deter southern Yemen's push to "reclaim what it calls its full rights." The STC also said it had "regained control" of contested positions.

The United States urged diplomacy in response to the escalation, according to reports, reflecting international concern that a breakdown between erstwhile coalition partners could further fragment Yemen and complicate efforts to contain the Houthi insurgency. Since the Saudi led coalition was formed in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government, tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over the future of Yemen's south have periodically flared, with the STC asserting authority in key southern provinces.

Beyond immediate security and humanitarian consequences, the dispute has market and policy implications. Hadramout contains key population centers and port infrastructure including Mukalla that serve commercial shipping along the Gulf of Aden, and renewed fighting can raise insurance costs, disrupt cargo flows and deter reconstruction investment. For Yemen the political fracture complicates any plan to stabilize revenues, service delivery and donor backed reconstruction, potentially raising the fiscal and financing burden for the central government and its Gulf partners.

Several elements of the incident remain disputed or unconfirmed, including the coalition's alleged air strikes and the human rights accusations. Independent verification of casualty figures and allegations on the ground in Hadramout will be crucial as regional actors weigh whether to press for de escalation or to back more direct measures to enforce the coalition's demands.