A swift and decisive military push by Saudi-backed government troops has reshaped the landscape of southern Yemen, as officials confirmed the recapture of several vital provinces and the strategic port of Mukalla.
The operation, which began late last week, marks a significant shift in the internal power struggle between the internationally recognized government and the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). For weeks, the two factions—though technically allies against Houthi rebels—have been locked in a bitter standoff over territorial control.
Rashad al-Alimi, who heads the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), described the advances by the “Homeland Shield” forces as a “record success.” By Sunday, government officials confirmed that these units had successfully re-established a presence in all military and security positions across provinces bordering Saudi Arabia.
The most significant blow to the secessionist movement came in the east. Government troops successfully re-entered Mukalla, the capital of the Hadramout province. The coastal city is a critical economic hub, and its loss last month to the STC had significantly rattled the central government’s authority.
The scale of the retreat by STC forces appears widespread. In the neighboring al-Mahra governorate, local officials reported that Homeland Shield units had secured all nine districts following a sudden withdrawal by separatist fighters.
“The military reality on the ground changed almost overnight,” noted one regional analyst. “The intervention of the Homeland Shield forces effectively forced a resolution that political dialogue had failed to achieve in December.”
However, the cost of the breakthrough has been steep. STC officials reported that at least 80 of their fighters were killed during the weekend’s clashes. More than 150 others were wounded, and approximately 130 were taken into custody as government forces swept through the region.
The fighting was punctuated by reports of heavy aerial activity. Military sources within the STC claimed that Saudi warplanes conducted “intense” strikes on a separatist camp in Barshid, located just west of Mukalla, to clear the path for the ground advance.
Despite the violence, a fragile window for diplomacy remains. While the STC has been forced out of its newfound strongholds, the group’s leadership has cautiously welcomed an invitation from Riyadh for a new round of dialogue. They characterized the offer as a “genuine opportunity” to address the aspirations of the southern population.
In cities like Seiyun, there are signs that the immediate crisis is cooling. Local shops have begun to reopen, and state institutions are attempting to resume basic services under the new military oversight. Governor Salem Ahmed Said al-Khanbashi arrived at the local airport on Sunday to signal a return to civil administration.
Yet, the atmosphere remains combustible, particularly in the port city of Aden. The central government has accused the STC of imposing severe movement restrictions on civilians there, calling it a “grave violation” of previous peace agreements.
As the dust settles in Mukalla and al-Mahra, the focus shifts back to the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia. Whether this military victory leads to a lasting political settlement or merely a brief pause in a long-simmering rivalry remains the central question for the war-weary nation.
