Yemen: Military Escalation in the South and Warnings of Al-Qaeda's Use to Ignite Chaos

SadaNews - In a new military escalation, Yemeni channels accused Saudi Arabia yesterday, Friday, of bombing positions of southern forces in Hadramout, following its demand that the Transitional Council withdraw its forces from areas it recently controlled.
 
The "Aden Independent" channel, affiliated with the Transitional Council, aired what appeared to be mobile phone footage it described as showing the strikes. One witness in the clip claimed that the attack was carried out by Saudi forces.

The bombing occurred just hours after southern forces were ambushed by tribal groups led by Omar Harbish, which are considered outlaws and supported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Transitional Council stated in a statement that the airstrikes it claimed Saudi Arabia conducted in Hadramout "will not serve any path of understanding and will not deter the people of the south from continuing to restore their full rights." It affirmed its "openness to any coordination or arrangements based on ensuring the security, unity, and safety of the south and guaranteeing that security threats do not return, in a manner that meets the aspirations and will of our southern people, and the common interests with our brothers in the Kingdom."

It emphasized that the airstrikes carried out by Saudi Arabia on Friday against its positions will not deter southerners from regaining their "full rights," expressing openness to "arrangements" for security cooperation with Riyadh, which supports the internationally recognized government.

Meanwhile, the President of the Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, officially requested Saudi Arabia to wage war against the southern forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahrah during a meeting held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The meeting included the Speaker of Parliament Sheikh Sultan al-Barkani, the Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Breik, the President of the Shura Council Dr. Ahmed bin Dagher, and deputies of the presidents of the parliament and the Shura Council, the Consultation and Reconciliation Authority, and members of the National Defense Council from ministers and heads of military and security agencies, with the presence of the Governor of Hadramout, Salem Al-Khanbashi, according to the "Amanat Net".

On the other hand, Dr. Nasser Al-Khabbaji, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, stated that "all possibilities are expected, and it is not unlikely that there will be encouragement and mobilization of what is called 'lone wolves' from the worst elements, including remnants of Al-Qaeda and ISIS, to confuse the security scene and target the southern armed forces, which aligns with the clear attempts being witnessed in Hadramout today to mix the cards and undermine stability, as has happened previously in several areas."
He added that "resorting to these tools reveals the bankruptcy of those behind it and confirms that the aim is neither to serve the community nor to protect the state, but rather to undermine stability from within after the inability to confront directly. We affirm that any employment of terrorism, whatever its banner, is a direct service to the Houthis militias and agendas of chaos."

He confirmed that "the southern armed forces are aware of this danger and are working professionally through proactive measures to protect citizens and thwart these plots, without being drawn into targeting the community or creating tension. We also hold the entities that support, incite, or turn a blind eye to these elements fully politically and ethically responsible, and we confirm that complicity with terrorism, whether by action or silence, is a partnership in crime and its consequences."

He stated that "attempts to break the will or test the patience of the south will fail as they have failed before; the southern armed forces derive their strength from the will of a steadfast people, from a just cause, and from a long experience in confronting terrorism and chaos. The south today is more aware, organized, and steadfast, and it will not be allowed to return to the square of chaos or folly, no matter how many tools are used or how methods change." He emphasized that "security is a red line, and Hadramout is an integral part of the stability battle, and combating terrorism is a fixed option with no room for compromise."

Search for Chaos

Meanwhile, the Chinese news agency "Xinhua" reported that tribal groups coordinated secretly with Al-Qaeda to create chaos and regain visibility.
The southern forces succeeded in liberating the city of Mukalla from the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in 2016 by the hands of the elite Hadrami forces, with support from the Arab coalition represented by the Emirati forces, followed by the execution of Operation "Al-Faisal" that targeted one of Al-Qaeda's largest strongholds and decisively eliminated it.

Since then, Al-Qaeda has been searching for a foothold by planting cells and trying to create chaos, but the unity of the southern forces has ended all those attempts.

Researcher April Longley Alley says, "Any fighting of this kind would serve the Houthis' interests. With the government's forces preoccupied and their attention scattered, the group may test its advanced position in the northeastern Ma'rib province, including oil field areas, and/or along the Red Sea coast."

She continued, "Any additional regional gains for the Houthis will provide them with greater resources and capabilities to engage in future confrontations with the United States and its partners in the Gulf and Israel. The worsening instability in Hadramout will also provide space for the activities of Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups, thereby expanding the scope of threats both inside and outside Yemen."

Observers confirm that the trio of Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Houthis, which are allied unofficially, are waiting for chaos to defeat the south, just as happened in 1994 when the south was invaded by the north, aided by 12,000 fighters from Arab Afghans, leading to the death of 7,000 civilians.

The invasion came after fatwas from Brotherhood personalities declaring the takfir of southerners and the permissibility of shedding their blood and appropriating their lands, which was achieved and has made southerners live in difficult conditions since then.

A Steadfast Cause

On the other hand, the local authority leadership in the Tor Al-Bahah district of Lahij governorate issued a public call for gathering and participating in the popular march to be held tomorrow, Saturday, in the district center.

The director general of the district, Afif Al-Jaafari, stated that the call from the local authority leadership comes in support of Sheikh Abdul Rahman Jalal's call, Sheikh of the Subaiha tribes and the Secretary-General of the Southern Transitional Council, for widespread participation in the popular march scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, December 27, 2025, in the center of Tor Al-Bahah district.

Al-Jaafari called on the sons of the district and all the sons of the Subaiha tribes to attend and actively participate in this popular event, affirming the rights of southern citizens to restore their sought-after southern state before 1990, indicating that "the widespread participation in the march represents a sincere national message that embodies the depth of solidarity between the leadership and the masses, reflecting the steadfast popular will to defend the southern identity and move forward towards realizing the legitimate aspirations of all southerners."

Mohammed Fadhl Al-Jaabi stated, "There is no longer room for ambiguity or half-measures; the south is today engaged in a clear-cut battle for self-determination, led by a sweeping popular will, and translated into decisive steps taken by President Leader Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, fully supported by the ministries, institutions, and local authorities in all southern provinces."

He pointed out that "this comprehensive national alignment is not merely a political stance but a practical declaration that the institutions of the south have decided to finally align with the will of their people, rejecting any attempts to circumvent or compromise the south's right to freedom, independence, and dignity. The institutions have clearly stated: the south first, and the will of its people above all considerations."