NYN | News
The city of Seiyun in Hadramawt has witnessed a widespread security breakdown since forces of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) entered the city and took control of several government and military facilities in recent days. The developments triggered a wave of violations, assaults, and looting targeting public and private property amid a complete absence of official authorities, according to local media reports.
Local sources stated that the attacks primarily targeted government headquarters and public property, as well as commercial shops owned by citizens from northern governorates. They explained that the ongoing looting has affected service buildings and warehouses containing electronic equipment and furniture belonging to government institutions, while employees confirmed that the scale of losses is significant and will take considerable time to assess.
Activists on social media circulated video clips documenting acts of looting carried out by STC soldiers, showing them carrying household and office furniture and electrical appliances before loading them onto military vehicles and leaving, without any official intervention.
The governor of Hadramawt, Salem Al-Khanbashi, confirmed the occurrence of “looting incidents” targeting citizens’ property in Wadi Hadramawt, noting that he had contacted STC military leadership and demanded an end to such practices.
Observers believe that recent developments in Hadramawt—particularly the STC’s takeover of government facilities and strategic military sites—portend potential clashes over the management of the governorate. This comes amid clear divergence between the official authorities and the groups controlling the ground, while citizens remain the most affected party in these events.
The oil-rich governorate has witnessed heightened tension in recent days between Saudi-backed Hadramawt Tribal Alliance forces and STC forces, amid simultaneous Saudi and Emirati moves to redistribute control over areas rich in oil, minerals, and strategic fields.
