Unofficial Military Formations: Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance Announces Graduation of New Batch of Its Forces
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom/ Hadhramaut
The Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance celebrated on Sunday the graduation of a new batch of its armed formations, under the name “Hadhramaut Protection Forces,” which operate outside the framework of the Ministry of Defense.
The Alliance, which uses the Hadhramaut Plateau (eastern Yemen) as a main headquarters for gathering its forces, announced today the graduation of the second batch during a ceremony that featured an impressive military parade. The event was attended by the President of the Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance, Sheikh Amr bin Habrish Al-Alawi, who also holds the position of First Deputy Governor of Hadhramaut.
In his speech, “bin Habrish” stated that the Hadhramaut Protection Forces are becoming more entrenched day by day and are proceeding with full determination and resolve towards achieving their future project, eliminating the effects of this stage and previous stages, and all the injustices suffered by the people of Hadhramaut.
The President of the Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance emphasized the unity of ranks and the cohesion of the free Hadhrami will, calling for adherence to the discipline, vigilance, and morals characteristic of the people of Hadhramaut, and to avoid causes of division and discord.
It is worth mentioning that the Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance is a tribal alliance that began its activities as a civil movement in 2013, in response to the deterioration of the security and economic situation in the governorate, especially after the tribal leader Sheikh Saeed bin Habrish was shot dead by security forces.
The Alliance includes tribes and clans from the desert and urban areas of Hadhramaut. Its activities remained purely civilian until the government proceeded to dismiss “Amr bin Habrish” from his position as Deputy Governor of Hadhramaut for Valley and Desert Affairs.
In mid-April, the Alliance mobilized hundreds of people from Hadhramaut governorate in the Plateau region of Hadhramaut for an expanded tribal gathering. A statement from the tribal meeting announced demands for self-rule as a minimum legitimate right for the people of Hadhramaut and rejected returning under the domination of other parties. The Alliance began forming its first armed brigade outside the framework of the Ministry of Defense in May 2025.
The Alliance entered into a confrontation with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) when Al-Zubaidi, during his visit to Al-Mukalla last March, sparked popular anger during his speech where he threatened the people of Hadhramaut, which prompted bin Habrish to respond.
Recently, the local authority in Hadhramaut had reached understandings with the Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance, which were rejected by the STC, leading the Alliance to announce days later that the understandings had failed.
