The Southern Transitional Council in Yemen Refuses to Withdraw from Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

SadaNews - The Southern Transitional Council in Yemen has refused to withdraw from the provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra in eastern Yemen, coinciding with the expiration of the deadline set by the internationally recognized government and Saudi Arabia.

Council President Muhammad Abdullah Al-Zubaidi, during a live broadcast, denied what he described as "rumors" about the withdrawal of the council's leadership and the southern government forces from the presidential palace in Seiyun, confirming that "morale is high."

Local sources reported on Wednesday morning that the Southern Transitional Council's forces partially withdrew from Wadi Khird and Ghayl Bin Yamin, but they redeployed in Wadi Hadhramaut and erected barricades in anticipation of any confrontations with the National Shield Forces.

Limited confrontations broke out between the Transitional Council forces and the Elite Forces in the areas of Dhuba, Jawl Al-Mashta, and Ghayl Bin Yamin at dawn.

In a related context, the spokesman for the Coalition Forces, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, broadcast images of the military operation executed at the Al-Mukalla port early Tuesday, which resulted in the seizure of more than 80 vehicles and containers of weapons and ammunition, with some of the vehicles being transferred to Al-Rayan base without notifying the Kingdom. The coalition confirmed the application of the rules of engagement during the operation.

For its part, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to the security and stability of Yemen, urging the UAE to withdraw from Yemeni territories within 24 hours, while the UAE Ministry of Defense announced the end of its anti-terrorism mission in Yemen in coordination with partners, as part of an assessment of the requirements of the phase and its role in supporting the stability of the region.

The head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, had requested the withdrawal of UAE forces within 24 hours, coinciding with a coalition airstrike on weapons and combat vehicles that arrived at Al-Mukalla port.

Al-Alimi also declared a state of emergency across the country for 90 days, renewable, and imposed a temporary air, sea, and land blockade on ports and outlets for 72 hours, a measure supported by Riyadh, while Abu Dhabi later sought to contain the tension with Saudi Arabia, emphasizing its non-involvement in the ongoing crisis.