News – Yemen: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has described the takeover by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) militia of Hadramawt and Al-Mahrah provinces as an “unjustified escalation,” saying the moves were carried out unilaterally and without the approval of the so-called Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the so-called coalition command.

In an official statement, the ministry said Riyadh has worked with the United Arab Emirates to contain the situation, noting that a joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to arrange measures with the STC to ensure the withdrawal of its forces to their previous positions outside the two provinces. The statement added that military camps in Hadramawt and Al-Mahrah are to be handed over to the so-called “Nation’s Shield” forces under coalition supervision.

The ministry said efforts are ongoing and that Saudi Arabia is relying on what it termed the “public interest,” expressing hope that the STC would move swiftly to de-escalate and withdraw its forces smoothly and urgently from both provinces.

Meanwhile, southeastern governorates—particularly Hadramawt and Al-Mahrah—have been witnessing heightened tensions for more than a month amid clashes between Saudi-Emirati occupation-backed factions. During this period, STC militias have pushed out Islah-affiliated forces from military camps and government facilities.

Observers say the Saudi statement underscores the depth of Riyadh’s direct intervention in Yemeni affairs and highlights the dependence of its local proxies on Saudi directives, reinforcing assertions that southern Yemeni provinces remain under Saudi and Emirati occupation.

The language of the statement has also been interpreted as signaling possible Saudi intervention should the STC persist in defying instructions, raising the prospect of further escalation—signs of which, according to local sources, have already emerged through airstrikes targeting STC positions.

Sana’a has repeatedly stated that developments in Hadramawt and Al-Mahrah reflect internal conflict among occupation tools and constitute a continuation of the Saudi–Emirati–US aggression launched against Yemen on March 26, 2015.