NYN | News
Saudi media outlets have shown a notable escalation in their coverage of recent developments in Hadramout province over the past few days. This comes after the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) insisted on keeping its forces in the Hadramout Valley and declined Saudi calls for their withdrawal and replacement with the Saudi-aligned “National Shield” forces.
The state-run newspaper Al-Riyadh dedicated prominent space in its Thursday edition to covering these developments, publishing headlines and reports addressing the security and political situation in the province, as well as the repercussions of recent military movements.
The newspaper also published analytical pieces focusing on what it considers potential implications for local stability.
This media trend extended to other major Saudi outlets, including Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, both of which intensified their news reporting and talk-show discussions on the same issue. Saudi analysts and activists were also highly engaged on social media, expressing a range of opinions on the unfolding events.
Observers believe this media activity reflects Saudi efforts to apply pressure toward restructuring the security landscape in Hadramout in a manner consistent with Riyadh’s vision for managing strategically sensitive border regions.
Others note that the rising tone in the media may indicate widening disagreements between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over approaches to managing influence in certain Yemeni regions—particularly the eastern governorates—amid stalled, undeclared diplomatic efforts to reach mutual understandings.
Such tensions, they warn, could have significant political and security repercussions in the coming period.
