The Saudi-led military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government has warned that it will "deal directly and immediately" with any further military actions by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) that undermine de-escalation efforts in the eastern provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra. The statement, issued on December 27, 2025, by coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, follows reports of airstrikes on STC positions and escalating demands for the UAE-backed separatists to withdraw.
Al-Maliki said the warning responded to a request from Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), for urgent measures to protect civilians in Hadramout from "serious and shocking humanitarian violations" allegedly committed by STC-affiliated forces. The coalition emphasized its objective to safeguard lives and support joint Saudi-Emirati mediation for calm.
Separately, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman urged the STC on X to prioritize "reason, wisdom, and public interest" by cooperating with mediation, ending escalation, withdrawing from camps in Hadramout and al-Mahra, and peacefully handing them over to local authorities and the National Shield Forces.
The tensions stem from the STC's rapid offensive starting December 3, 2025, seizing control of large parts of Hadramout (oil-rich) and al-Mahra (bordering Oman), comprising nearly half Yemen's territory. The moves displaced Saudi-backed government forces with minimal resistance, prompting accusations of unilateralism harming national unity.
On December 26, 2025, unidentified airstrikes—widely attributed to Saudi forces—targeted STC positions in Hadramout's Wadi Nahb and Ghayl bin Yamin areas near oil fields. The STC reported no casualties but described them as warning shots. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the strikes.
The STC rejected withdrawal calls on December 26, vowing to continue "securing" the provinces while expressing openness to coordination protecting "shared interests" with Saudi Arabia and southern aspirations.
The coalition reaffirmed "firm support" for the PLC government, calling for restraint and response to peaceful initiatives. Regional observers note strains in the anti-Houthi alliance, with UAE backing the STC's autonomy push contrasting Saudi emphasis on Yemen's unity.
As mediation continues, the situation remains volatile, with potential for broader instability in Yemen's protracted conflict.
