Yemeni governor warns separatist forces to withdraw or face battle

The governor of Yemen's eastern Hadramaut province has warned that Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces must withdraw completely from the region or prepare for a military clash. In an interview with Saudi television on Thursday, Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi stated the STC has "no choice but to fully and unconditionally withdraw or face a military confrontation," accusing the separatist group of aiming to seize control of the province's oil resources.

A Standoff Over Strategic Territory and Resources

The ultimatum escalates a tense standoff that began last month when STC forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates, captured Hadramaut and neighboring Al-Mahra province from Yemen's internationally recognized government. Together, these two eastern provinces constitute nearly half of Yemen's total land area and hold significant economic and strategic value. Governor Khanbashi expressed skepticism about a peaceful resolution, stating the STC forces "will not withdraw peacefully as expected."

A Fractured Coalition and Diplomatic Crisis

The crisis has triggered a major diplomatic rupture within the Saudi-led coalition that has fought Houthi rebels for years. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia publicly accused the UAE of pushing the STC to conduct military operations along the Saudi border, labeling it a threat to its national security. The UAE rejected the accusations and affirmed its commitment to Saudi security. In a dramatic response on the same day, Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council canceled its joint defense agreement with the UAE and ordered all Emirati forces to leave the country within 24 hours.

The Core Dispute: Secession Versus Unity

The STC, which controls much of southern Yemen including Aden, advocates for the secession of the south, arguing that the region has been politically and economically marginalized by northern-based governments for decades. The internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, categorically rejects these claims and insists on preserving Yemen's territorial unity. This fundamental disagreement, now exacerbated by the direct Saudi-UAE rift, threatens to ignite a new front in Yemen's complex war and further destabilize the region, a concern for neighboring states including Türkiye, which supports Yemen's sovereignty.