Yemen Monitor / Monitoring Unit / Exclusive
The conflict in Hadramout is escalating, signaling that the governorate—long distant from the war—may be entering a new phase of military confrontation. Clashes that began last Wednesday were followed by a statement from the Hadramout Tribes Alliance, which ignited the crisis with forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The alliance accused those forces of carrying out “provocative” military movements in Mukalla, assaulting civilians, and shooting at them without justification.
The “security support forces” mentioned in the alliance’s statement are a newly formed unit created to replace the Hadrami Elite Forces. They are led by Abu Ali Al-Hadrami, a figure close to the STC president and regarded by observers as the de facto overseer of Hadramout.
Al-Hadrami is reportedly being prepared to assume command of the Second Military Region, replacing Major General Talib Barjash. This comes as the security support forces under Al-Hadrami—and the Barshid Brigade, whose fighters are accused of being from outside Hadramout—expand their reach. Al-Hadrami is said to be using the name of the Hadrami Elite Forces and the Second Military Region as a cover to broaden his influence and position himself as the effective commander along the Hadramout coast. This expansion threatens the rising Hadramout Tribes Alliance, which has recently called for self-rule and gained wide public support, forming its own military wing under the name Hadramout Protection Forces.
Escalation of Events
On November 10, the Second Military Region announced that an armed group from a tribal checkpoint in the Al-Ramadh area had intercepted fuel tankers designated for electricity stations along the Hadramout coast, using light and medium weapons to block the main road.
It added that clashes between the gunmen and protection forces resulted in the injury of two civilians, affirming that it would pursue those involved and would not allow vital interests of the governorate to be threatened.
Clashes Between Rival Power Centers
The clashes that erupted between tribal gunmen and the security support forces of the Hadrami Elite represent a dangerous development, escalating into armed confrontation and leaving three wounded.
According to the Second Military Region, a force from the Hadrami Elite was ambushed on the Ghayl Bin Yamin road while conducting a field mission. A group led by Salem Al-Gharabi was accused of firing on the military convoy.
The statement said the attack injured three gunmen, and several were arrested, while others fled. It asserted that the operation was part of efforts to combat terrorism and smuggling.
Confrontation Between the Alliance and Security Support Forces Erupts
The statement issued today by the Hadramout Tribes Alliance marked the strongest escalation yet. It openly accused the security support forces— “all of whom are from outside Hadramout,” according to the alliance—of operating without any legitimate status and using “fabricated information” to justify assaults on citizens.
The alliance said the area the forces entered “was safe and stable” before their arrival, noting that the Hadrami Elite Forces deployed along the Hadramout coast enjoy community consensus. This raises questions, it said, about the motives behind the entry of forces led by Abu Ali Al-Hadrami into the city.
It also warned against any “invasion of Hadramout or tampering with its security,” holding the entities supporting the security support forces fully responsible for the consequences.
Strengthening the STC’s Control Over Military Forces
Amid the escalating events, some Hadramout residents have offered interpretations of what is happening on the coast. Activist Amin Barfaid wrote in a post that the developments are “part of a plan to reengineer military power in Hadramout,” pointing to media campaigns targeting commanders of the Second Military Region and the increasing promotion of Abu Ali Al-Hadrami, along with expanded responsibilities assigned to the security support forces.
Barfaid claimed there were attempts to weaken the Hadrami Elite Forces from within by creating internal conflicts and replacing personnel with fighters from outside the governorate, paving the way—according to him—for changes in the leadership of the Second Military Region.
Hadramout Facing an Uncertain Scene
The common thread among these recent developments is that Hadramout is entering a phase of direct friction between multiple factions, each trying to consolidate its influence in strategic areas.
With no unified stance from local authorities and rising tensions among tribal and military actors, the governorate seems headed toward a more complex stage. There are growing fears that these confrontations could escalate into widespread conflict if tensions continue unchecked and no intervention occurs to prevent the slide into open warfare.
