🚨 Yemen tensions are rising in Hadramout! Yesterday (Friday, Dec 26, 2025), Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), called on the Saudi-led coalition to step in and protect civilians from intensifying clashes with Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces. 🤝
According to the state-run Saba news agency, the PLC leader was briefed on what officials describe as "hostile operations" by the STC in the southeastern, oil-rich province. These moves, the government warns, threaten regional stability and undermine ongoing Saudi-Emirati mediation efforts. ⛽️
A military official in Yemen’s internationally recognized government, speaking to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, says this call could spark a fresh wave of Saudi airstrikes in the coming hours. Local army units, backed by heavy equipment, are now positioned along the Saudi border, ready for any escalation. 🛡️✈️
The STC, which seized Hadramout on December 3 after clashes with pro-government troops, claims Riyadh already launched strikes on its sites this Friday. Residents reported loud explosions, and social media clips showed smoke rising over key locations. So far, Saudi authorities haven’t confirmed the raids. 📹
This conflict adds another layer to Yemen’s long-running war. Since 2014, Houthi forces control Sanaa and much of the north, prompting a Saudi-led intervention in 2015. Meanwhile, the STC, established in 2017, seeks autonomy—and eventually independence—for southern Yemen.
After joining the Saudi-led coalition and integrating into the PLC in 2022, the STC has continued pushing for more power and resources. Their recent advances in Al-Mahrah and Hadramout have reignited debates over Yemen’s unity and territorial control—topics that Yemenis and overseas observers alike are watching closely. 🌍
As the world follows these developments, the big question remains: Will this call for Saudi action help stabilize Hadramout, or will it fuel deeper divisions? Stay tuned as we continue tracking how this high-stakes drama unfolds. 🔍
Reference(s):
Yemen urges Saudi-led action as rift with separatists deepens
cgtn.com
