Saudi Arabia has issued stern warnings against any military movements that undermine de-escalation efforts in Yemen.
These statements follow recent maneuvers by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to expand its presence into Yemen’s eastern provinces of Hadramout and Mahra.
A Withdrawal Call
The Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, on Saturday called on the STC to withdraw its forces from Hadramout and Mahra and hand over power to local authorities.
“It is time for the Southern Transitional Council, in this critical phase, to prioritize reason, wisdom, the public interest, and unity of ranks, by responding to the Saudi-Emirati mediation efforts to end escalation, withdraw their forces from the camps in the two governorates (Hadramout and Mahra), and hand them over peacefully to the Nation Shield Forces and local authorities,” the Saudi Defense Minister wrote on X.
Furthermore, Prince Khalid noted that the southern issue is a just political cause that cannot be ignored, stressing that it will remain present in any comprehensive political solution. He also said that this issue must be solved through consensus, honoring commitments, and building trust among all Yemenis.
Saudi Support for Yemen
In his statement, Prince Khalid highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support peace and stability in Yemen. “The kingdom brought together all Yemeni components at the Riyadh Conference to chart a clear path toward a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, including addressing the southern issue,” he said, noting that the Riyadh Agreement guaranteed the participation of southerners in governance and opened the way toward a just solution to their cause.
Moreover, he highlighted the kingdom’s support for Yemen, including political, economic, developmental, and humanitarian support, to alleviate the suffering of Yemenis and strengthen their resilience in the face of economic challenges.
The Saudi Defense Minister also pointed to the sacrifices by Saudi Arabia, its coalition partners and Yemenis to safeguard the security of Yemen.
“The kingdom and its partners in the coalition have also made sacrifices with their sons and their capabilities alongside their Yemeni brothers to liberate Aden and other Yemeni governorates. The kingdom has always been keen that these sacrifices serve the restoration of land and state, not become a gateway to new conflicts,” Prince Khalid said.
Protecting Civilians
Earlier on Saturday, the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen warned that any military movements undermining de-escalation efforts in Hadramout and Mahra will be countered to protect civilians, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In a statement, the coalition’s spokesperson, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, noted that this warning followed a request from the head of Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, for the coalition to take urgent measures to protect civilians in Hadramout from what he called “serious humanitarian violations committed by armed groups affiliated with the STC.”
The spokesperson also said that these measures are part of joint Saudi-Emirati efforts to de-escalate tensions, facilitate the withdrawal of STC forces, hand over military camps to the Nation Shield Forces, and enable local authorities to carry out their duties.
Moreover, Al-Maliki reiterated the coalition’s support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, urging all parties to exercise restraint and respond to peaceful solutions to preserve security and stability.
Saudi Firm Position
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia called on the STC to immediately withdraw its forces from the provinces of Hadramout and Mahra, describing the recent unilateral military actions as an “unjustified escalation” that threatens regional stability.
Earlier in December, the STC forces carried out unilateral military actions to expand its presence in eastern Yemen, seizing strategic sites in Hadramout and Mahra, pushing the internationally recognized government from its headquarters in Aden.
In the light of this, the kingdom sent a joint Saudi-Emirati military team to Aden to make the necessary arrangements for the STC forces’ withdrawal to their previous positions outside Hadramout and Mahra and the handover of camps in those areas to the Nation Shield Forces and local authorities.
Saudi Arabia stressed the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni factions to exercise restraint and avoid any measures that could destabilize security and stability.
It also reaffirmed that the southern issue is a just cause with historical and social dimensions that can only be solved through dialogue among Yemeni parties within the framework of a comprehensive political solution.
