Hadramout (South24 Center)

The head of the Saudi delegation in Hadramout affirmed that Riyadh remains committed to deploying the “Shield of the Nation” forces in provinces of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, during a meeting with tribal leaders on Tuesday (December 9) in Wadi Hadramout near the Saudi border.

During the meeting, Major General Sultan Al-Qahtani reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s position rejecting any attempt by any party to “impose a fait accompli,” emphasizing that Hadramout is “a fundamental priority for stability, not a battleground for conflict.”

Al-Qahtani added that Saudi Arabia insists on the withdrawal of forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) from Hadramout and Al-Mahra and the handover of military sites and camps to the Saudi-backed “Shield of the Nation” forces.

He explained that the delegation had reached, with various local parties, a matrix of measures aimed at supporting security and de-escalation, including an initial framework to ensure the continued operation of PetroMasila oil production.

The arrangements also include the withdrawal of the forces currently controlling key positions, to be replaced by Hadrami forces operating under the supervision of the local authority and with Saudi oversight.

Al-Qahtani stated: “The Southern cause is a just cause that cannot be bypassed or ignored and will be present in any upcoming political settlement,” adding that “Saudi Arabia maintains historic fraternal ties with the entire South.”

On Tuesday, the former head of the Hadramout Tribes confederacy , Amr bin Habrish, appeared in a video statement accusing Southern forces of attacking his fighters in the oil-rich Al-Masila area using heavy weapons and drones.

Bin Habrish called on Yemenis to fight against Southern forces in Hadramout, while expressing appreciation to Rashad Al-Alimi for his “recent positions” opposing the STC, despite years of earlier accusations that Al-Alimi was responsible for Hadramout’s crises and obstruction of service reforms.

Bin Habrish’s remarks sparked significant controversy among Southern groups, and his call for Yemenis confrontation in Hadramout was widely viewed as reinforcing perceptions of his alignment with Northern factions, particularly following the expulsion of the First Military Region forces from Wadi Hadramout.

Meanwhile, UN Envoy Hans Grundberg on the same day urged de-escalation in Hadramout and Al-Mahra following meetings in Riyadh with Saudi, Emirati, and Western officials.

Grundberg stressed the importance of restraint and preserving space for dialogue “in the interest of stability and the well-being of citizens.”

At the same time, mass open sit-ins continue in Aden and other southern cities in support of the Southern Armed Forces and the “Promising Future” operation, which led to the removal of Northern forces from Hadramout and Al-Mahra.

Protesters are also demanding the declaration of independence and the restoration of the Southern state.