News - Yemen: The head of the Political Office of the Supreme Revolutionary Movement, Madram Harasi Abu Siraj, warned of dangerous repercussions from the escalating clashes in Yemen’s occupied southern and eastern governorates, particularly Hadramout and Al-Mahrah. 

In a statement to Almasirah, Abu Siraj explained that the entry of the so-called Southern Transitional Council (STC) into Hadramout, and the peaceful takeover of Al-Mahrah without military confrontation, occurred with direct Saudi approval. Forces of the “First Military Region” were reportedly ordered to avoid engagement and surrender positions peacefully, explaining the absence of clashes during the developments.

He added that Riyadh later realized the strategic error, especially as Abu Dhabi’s expansionist ambitions toward the eastern governorates became clear. The nearly 650-kilometer border with Saudi Arabia makes these areas a key target in the regional conflict equation.

Abu Siraj said the current situation highlights the Saudi–Emirati struggle to dominate southern governorates through local proxies. He noted that the UAE has already secured influence over Yemen’s islands, including Socotra, as well as Aden and the western coast, leaving the eastern governorates as the next objective—an opportunity it exploited amid Saudi missteps. 

Following the fall of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah, Saudi Arabia reportedly found itself surrounded by multiple strategic pressures, prompting diplomatic and military maneuvers in Mukalla, Aden, and Oman to contain the situation.

On the security front, Abu Siraj warned of unprecedented deterioration, with daily incidents of assassinations, bombings, and explosive attacks in Aden, Lahj, Abyan, and Shabwah. This insecurity has now spread to Hadramout following the entry of Transitional Council forces. 

He accused the council’s militias of serious violations, including killings, arbitrary arrests, looting, and house raids, turning cities such as Seiyun into lawless areas exploited for war gains.

Human rights organizations have reportedly documented over 56 violations, targeting members of the First Military Region and displaced families residing in Hadramout since 2015.

Abu Siraj emphasized that these practices are widely rejected by the local population and do not reflect southern Yemeni values or traditions. He noted that the gatherings in Aden are largely paid regional mobilizations, not representative of the six southern governorates, and that the council’s actual demographic and territorial base is limited.

He reaffirmed the historical and unwavering support of southern Yemen for the Palestinian cause, highlighting past sacrifices and hosting of Palestinian leadership and factions in Aden. 

Abu Siraj stressed that the southern issue can only be resolved through an independent Yemen–Yemeni framework, free from foreign interference, whether from the Zionist entity or the Riyadh–Abu Dhabi coalition, and called for national awareness to prevent the south from becoming a stage for open regional conflict.

The eastern and southern governorates of Yemen, including Hadramout and Al-Mahrah, have become central arenas for the Saudi–Emirati rivalry, with each power using local proxies to expand influence. This struggle has created a profound security vacuum, fueling lawlessness, targeted assassinations, bombings, and widespread human rights violations.

Analysts warn that the ongoing chaos not only undermines local governance and civilian safety but also threatens regional stability, as armed militias operate with impunity and cross-border tensions escalate.

The situation underscores the risks of turning Yemeni territory into a battleground for external ambitions, with the local population bearing the brunt of political and military manipulation.