STC Describes Army Forces in Hadramowt Valley as Representing “Houthi Influence” and Other Organizations
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) stated that the launch of a military operation against Yemeni Army positions in the Hadramowt governorate, named “Promising Future,” came after “exhausting all previously proposed options to restore stability” in the province.
In a statement, the Council indicated that the objective of the operation against the army forces is to “establish security and regain control over vital areas,” calling on residents to remain in their homes for their safety until things return to normal.
The STC also alleged that the “Yemeni Army forces that were removed today were the ‘lungs’ that the Houthis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other terrorist organizations breathed through, exploiting their positions for influence and profiteering, far removed from the interests of the homeland and its citizens.”
The Council announced what it termed a “general amnesty” for all who commit to ceasing any hostile acts, with an exception for those proven to be involved in acts of violence or serious violations. It noted that the forces that were removed were—according to its statement—exploiting their positions for “influence and profiteering.”
The statement affirmed that the STC forces have taken control of vital locations in the Valley, including areas previously under the control of the army forces, a step the Council described as aiming to stabilize the security situation in the governorate.
Earlier, Major General Mohammed Obaid Al-Qahtani, Head of the Saudi Special Committee, held an extensive meeting with various components of the Hadramowt population amid escalating tension between the Hadramowt Tribal Alliance and the UAE-backed STC forces.
These movements come at a time when security sources reported that STC forces have taken control of vast areas of the Hadramowt governorate in eastern Yemen.
STC forces extended their influence without a fight over several areas, most notably the strategic city of Sayun, the capital of Hadramowt Valley. Sources indicated that they entered various vital sites in the city, including the Presidential Palace and Sayun International Airport.
Seiyun city and other districts in the Valley were previously under the control of the First Military Region forces, which are affiliated with the internationally recognized Yemeni government. Hadramowt Valley has seen rapid developments in recent days following the deployment of STC forces to the governorate and the expansion of the Hadramowt Tribal Alliance forces in oil regions, amidst a struggle for influence in Yemen’s largest and most resource-rich governorate.
