Yemen: A new and dangerous chapter is unfolding in Yemen's resource-rich Hadhramaut province, transforming it into an overt battleground between rival Gulf-backed factions, according to regional analysts and international reports.

A report by the American online publication The Cradle characterizes Hadhramaut as a "new battlefield," directly translating the regional proxy competition into local conflict. The struggle is centered on controlling the province's oil fields and strategic ports on the Arabian Sea, resources vital to any future political entity in southern Yemen.

The conflict reportedly stems from a deepening rift between the two main coalition partners [the Saudi and Emirati regimes]. The Cradle suggests a contentious deal has seen Saudi Arabia cede influence over key southern oil fields to the UAE-backed STC. This has resulted in a de facto partition of the province: Saudi-aligned forces, like the "Dhor Al-Watan" (Shield of the Nation) militia, hold sway in the northern inland areas (the "valley and desert"), while the STC consolidates power over the strategic southern coast and ports.

In response to the STC's rapid consolidation, Saudi Arabia is reportedly taking assertive steps to reclaim influence. The report indicates that Saudi General Mohammed bin Obaid Al-Qahtani has been directed to take direct charge of the Hadhramaut file, establishing an operations room in the provincial capital, Mukalla. This move is interpreted as an attempt to install a de facto Saudi governor to wrest administrative and political control from Emirati proxies.

Recent days have seen targeted attacks on STC positions, including an alleged assault on an Emirati-backed military convoy. These actions are viewed as sharp messages from Riyadh intended to cripple the military capacity of its partner's allies and force a retreat.

Analysts note that the confrontation in Hadhramaut is interwoven with wider regional rivalries, such as the competition for influence in Sudan, where Saudi Arabia and the UAE support opposing factions. The escalation serves to further complicate any potential political roadmap for peace in Yemen, opening the door to deeper internal chaos and prolonging the suffering of the local population, who see their land and wealth become the fuel for external power struggles.

Hadhramaut, Yemen's largest province and home to its primary oil and gas reserves, has been a relative zone of stability but is now the epicenter of a growing power struggle. The province is a key prize for rival factions within the Saudi-led coalition, primarily the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) and forces aligned with Saudi Arabia, amidst the broader backdrop of Yemen's civil war.