Al-Akhbar (Lebanon): STC Consolidates Southern Control… Islah Exits the Coalition Equation UAE Redraws the Map of Influence in Hadramawt and al-Mahra as Saudi Arabia Withdraws Support From Its Traditional Ally

NYN | Reports and Analyses 

A detailed report published by Al-Akhbar (Lebanon) states that southern Yemen is undergoing a decisive transformation after the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) tightened its full control over Hadramawt, followed by official institutions in al-Mahra declaring allegiance to the STC after the Yemeni flag was taken down and the flag of the former South Yemen state raised.

The newspaper described the move as “the most painful blow” to the Islah Party (Muslim Brotherhood) and to Saudi Arabia’s traditional influence in eastern Yemen.

Hadramawt: The Heart of Yemen’s Oil Wealth in STC Hands

Al-Akhbar notes that seizing Hadramawt represents a fundamental shift in the balance of power, as it is the wealthiest oil-producing governorate and home to the most important land crossing linking Yemen to the Gulf.

With both Hadramawt and al-Mahra falling under STC control, “the separatists’ leverage is strengthened in an unprecedented manner,” bringing the council closer to forming a near-complete political entity in terms of resources, territory, and access points.

Islah… the Biggest Loser

The paper asserts that recent developments effectively remove the Islah Party from the scene in the south and east, following the rapid collapse of its affiliated First Military Region forces without notable resistance.

According to Al-Akhbar, what happened marks “the end of a role that has been eroding for years,” leaving Islah “outside the coalition game” in the most strategic regions.

Saudi–UAE Power Sharing… and a Saudi Leaning Away From Islah

The report posits the existence of an implicit Saudi-UAE understanding to redistribute influence across the south. Saudi Arabia—according to the newspaper—seeks to reduce its entanglement in Yemen’s conflicts and sees abandoning the Muslim Brotherhood as a step toward avoiding friction with the UAE, which is working to cement its military and political presence along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The newspaper adds that Saudi Arabia has shown no willingness to protect its traditional allies, appearing instead “withdrawn from any direct commitment to Islah’s positions,” a stance that hastened the STC’s takeover of Hadramawt and al-Mahra.

STC Expands Its Territory… UAE Extends Its Maritime Influence

Al-Akhbar argues that the STC’s control of the east is reshaping the map not only inside Yemen but across the region. Emirati influence now stretches across a wide expanse of coastline, in addition to its control over strategic islands, giving Abu Dhabi greater leverage over maritime trade routes and vital sea lanes.

The Dissipation of ‘Arab Coalition’ Slogans

The paper notes that although the coalition initially entered Yemen under the banner of “supporting legitimacy,” internal contradictions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi soon became apparent. The latest developments in Hadramawt confirm, according to the report, that the Gulf intervention “was never a unified project, but rather a race to redistribute influence.”

It adds that the fall of the eastern governorates has highlighted the gap between the coalition’s political slogans and its actual objectives on the ground.

Islah Feels Betrayed… Leadership Under Pressure

The newspaper reports that Islah leaders are experiencing a “clear sense of betrayal” after Saudi Arabia abandoned them, while strict warnings have been issued to senior figures such as Sultan al-Aradah, who returned urgently to Marib amid the rapid collapse of the party’s influence in Hadramawt and al-Mahra.

Al-Akhbar concludes that Riyadh now appears to be moving according to a new strategy aligned with regional and international pressures aimed at reducing the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence and excluding them from regions of wealth and vital ports.