UAE-Backed Separatists Seize Control of Yemen's Hadhramaut Province

The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates, has expanded its control over Yemen's southern regions by seizing key areas in Hadhramaut province, including the strategic city of Seiyun. This move has heightened tensions with the internationally recognized government and other factions in the region.

The STC's recent offensive, named "Promising Future," targeted the oil-rich Hadhramaut province, which contains approximately 80% of Yemen's oil reserves. The group clashed with government-aligned forces and tribal fighters, leading to the capture of Seiyun and other significant locations. The STC claims that its actions aim to restore stability and combat smuggling operations benefiting the Houthi militias and extremist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda.

In response to the STC's advances, the Saudi-led coalition briefly closed Yemen's airspace, causing disruptions to flights, including those to and from the southern city of Aden. A Yemeni government official described this as a "Saudi message" to the separatists following their takeover of areas in Hadhramaut. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours before flight operations resumed.

The STC's actions have also escalated tensions with influential tribal leader Amr bin Habresh, who earlier this year demanded a larger share of oil revenues and seized fields from the government. The tribal leader vowed to fight back, raising fears of deeper fragmentation in Yemen's south.

The internationally recognized government, led by the Presidential Leadership Council, has called for the STC to withdraw from the recently seized areas. Chairman Rashad al-Alimi stated, "We categorically reject any unilateral measures that would undermine the legal status of the state, harm the public interest, or create a parallel reality."

Analysts suggest that the STC's recent actions represent a significant shift in Yemen's power dynamics, with the UAE expanding its influence in the region. Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, commented, "This changes the balance of power in Yemen. The key question now is how Saudi Arabia will respond, given the direct implications for its national security."

The UAE has stated that its position on the Yemen crisis aligns with Saudi Arabia and supports international efforts to resume a political process in the country. "The governance and territorial integrity of Yemen is an issue that must be determined by the Yemeni parties themselves," the UAE's statement read.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, with the Iranian-backed Houthis controlling much of the north, including the capital, Sanaa. The STC, while part of the anti-Houthi coalition, seeks an independent state in southern Yemen, further complicating the conflict's landscape.