Violent Saudi Airstrikes on Mukalla… Al-Khanbashi Announces the End of STC Presence at Riyan Airport
Unprecedented Escalation in Hadramout amid Saudi Efforts to Expel UAE-Backed Factions from the Oil Plateau
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Saudi warplanes renewed, this evening, a series of intense airstrikes targeting positions belonging to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Hadramout governorate in eastern Yemen, as part of a rapidly escalating military campaign in the province.
Targeting STC Positions in Mukalla
Local sources told Yemen Al-Jadeed News that the Saudi strikes hit sites belonging to the Barshid Brigade affiliated with the STC in the city of Mukalla. The strikes were accompanied by heavy warplane activity over the Hadramout coast, triggering tension and panic among residents.
Al-Khanbashi: Elimination of STC Forces at Riyan Airport
In a related development, the presidential council-appointed governor of Hadramout, Salem Al-Khanbashi, announced that STC forces stationed inside Riyan International Airport had refused to withdraw. He confirmed that government forces dealt with the situation and eliminated those elements.
Saudi Escalation to Oust Emirati Influence
This development comes amid an unprecedented Saudi military escalation aimed at expelling UAE-loyal factions from strategic areas of influence in Hadramout, foremost among them the oil plateau. It is a clear indication of intensifying tensions within the coalition camp and their on-the-ground repercussions in Yemen.
