RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Thursday urged forces of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) to withdraw from the eastern governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, stating that the recent military deployments were carried out unilaterally and without coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council or the coalition leadership.
“These movements resulted in an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of the Yemeni people with all of its segments, as well as the Southern cause and the Coalition’s efforts,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It said Saudi Arabia has always prioritised preserving the unity of Yemen throughout recent developments, and that the Kingdom has spared no effort to reach peaceful solutions to resolve the situation in both governorates.
#Statement | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia points out that the military movements in the governorates of (Hadramout and Al-Mahra), recently conducted by the Southern Transitional Council, were carried out unilaterally, and without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council… pic.twitter.com/6JPJIMIJ1v
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 25, 2025
In this context, “the Kingdom worked with the brotherly United Arab Emirates, the president of the Presidential Leadership Council and the brotherly Yemeni government to contain the situation.”
“A joint military team was sent from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to put the necessary arrangements in place with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden. These arrangements were made to ensure the return of the Southern Transitional Council forces to their previous positions outside the two governorates and hand over the camps in those areas to the Nation Shield Forces and the local authorities, in accordance with organised procedures under the supervision of the coalition forces.”
The statement said that “these efforts remain in progress to restore the situation to its previous state.”
Saudi Arabia also said it “hopes public interest will prevail through ending the escalation by the Southern Transitional Council and the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates in an urgent and orderly manner.”
“The kingdom stresses the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni factions and components to exercise restraint and avoid any measures that could destabilise security and stability, which may result in undesirable consequences,” it added.
It affirmed that the Southern cause has historical and social dimensions, adding that the matter will be resolved through dialogue among all Yemeni parties within the comprehensive political solution in Yemen.
The Kingdom also affirmed its support for the President, the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to achieve security, stability, development, and peace in Yemen.
Since December 3, STC forces have seized control of parts of Hadramout after clashes with the Hadramout Tribes Alliance and First Military Region troops. Four days later, they extended their presence to Al-Mahra, which had previously been under government control.
The STC argues that successive governments have politically and economically marginalised the southern regions, a claim rejected by Yemeni authorities, who maintain their commitment to Yemen’s territorial unity.
The STC leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, holds a seat on Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council but has increasingly acted independently.
Analysts warn that the escalation could undermine Yemen’s fragile truce and strengthen the Houthis, who have controlled northern Yemen, including Sanaa, since 2014.
