Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Hadramowt Tribal Alliance (HTA) issued a strongly worded statement holding the United Arab Emirates (UAE) “fully responsible” for what it described as the “invasion of the governorate” and for supporting armed groups with money and weapons. The HTA affirmed its determination to defend Hadramowt ‘s territory and oil fields, calling on the International Quartet and the Arab Coalition to intervene and assume their responsibilities regarding the developing situation.
The statement noted that the HTA had exerted significant efforts to maintain the security and stability of the Al-Masila oil fields and facilities, and to prevent them from falling, as it described, “into the hands of foreign militias from outside Hadramowt.” HTA stressed its commitment to ensuring the continuity of operations within the oil companies without disturbances or risks to the facilities or their workers it further explained that it sought to avoid any escalation that could drag the region into “a cycle of chaos and conflict.”
The statement indicated that mediation efforts resulted in a truce agreement with the local authority leadership in the governorate, represented by Governor Salem Ahmed Al-Khanbashi. The agreement included several clauses, most notably de-escalating the field situation and the withdrawal of Hadramowt Protection Forces from within the oil sites. The HTA confirmed that it had begun steps to implement the agreement and started a gradual withdrawal from its positions.
However, the statement claimed that “at dawn on Thursday, December 4, 2025,” HTA positions were subjected to a “treacherous and surprise attack” carried out, according to the alliance, by armed groups from several fronts while the truce was in effect. This led to clashes, resulting in six martyrs and a large number of wounded from the HTA ranks. The statement deemed the incident an “immoral and criminal act,” carried out, in its view, “with the complicity of some Hadrami agents.”
While offering its condolences to the families of the victims from both sides and wishing the wounded a swift recovery, the HTA reaffirmed its commitment to defending Hadramowt, holding the UAE “fully responsible” for what transpired due to “its support for the armed groups with money and weapons and the resulting acts of killing and looting.”
In conclusion, Hadramowt Tribal Alliance called on the International Quartet (the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) and the leadership of the Arab Coalition to fulfill their duties regarding the serious developments witnessed in the governorate.
The Hadramowt Protection Forces, affiliated with the Tribal Alliance and led by Sheikh Amr bin Habrish, began deploying to oil facilities last November 29. This was in response to an attack by the Security Support Forces—affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC)—on loyalists in Ghail Bin Yamin, north of Mukalla, which left three injured.
Yesterday, cities in the Hadramowt Valley witnessed the complete control of STC forces after limited battles, followed by a withdrawal of the First Military Region forces. Observers described the events as the handover of the Hadramowt Valley to the STC with the complicity of the Presidential Leadership Council.
