Tensions Rise Between UAE- and Saudi-Backed Factions in Yemen’s Hadhramaut
Tensions have sharply escalated in recent days between armed groups backed by the United Arab Emirates and tribal coalitions allied with Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s oil-rich Hadhramaut province, raising fears of Sudan-like violent scenarios emerging in the region.
The unrest intensified after the UAE-affiliated Southern Transitional Council, through Abu Ali al-Hadrami, commander of Hadhramaut’s elite forces, threatened military action against the tribal alliance backed by Saudi Arabia. Al-Hadrami accused the coalition of advancing foreign agendas and attempting to divide Yemen.
On the other side, the Hadhramaut tribal alliance, led by Sheikh Amr bin Habrish, rejected these accusations and asserted that they truly represent the people of Hadhramaut. The alliance emphasized that Emirati-backed forces have been brought in from other provinces and do not reflect the will of local communities. The tribal coalition also announced plans to expel these forces, labeling any foreign military presence in Hadhramaut as an act of “occupation.”
In response to UAE-aligned military maneuvers, tribal forces in Hadhramaut held an emergency meeting and declared a state of high alert. They ordered their troops to mobilize at oil plateaus and the eastern borders of the province to prevent the entry of foreign forces.
Meanwhile, UAE-aligned troops deployed hundreds of armored vehicles around the provincial capital city of Mukalla and warned that they would target oil-rich areas under tribal control. They have also transferred new military units into Hadhramaut from the provinces of Aden, Abyan, and Shabwah.
According to local sources, the UAE has instructed its forces to seize control of highways leading to vital oil fields and to cut off Saudi-linked supply routes, paving the way for the capture of key installations in the Hadhramaut valley. Emirati commanders are also reportedly working to gain the support of tribal leaders in desert regions to solidify their hold over areas bordering Saudi Arabia.
At the core of this dispute lies a strategic rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over influence in Yemen’s eastern regions—a conflict unfolding amid international silence and inattention from human rights bodies. Observers warn that this could turn Hadhramaut into the next battleground for regional proxy warfare.
