South24 Center | Aden

Multiple areas across South Yemen and North Yemen have witnessed a notable escalation in military attacks and security tensions over the past two weeks, coinciding with political and military developments in the south. This comes amid continued civilian and military casualties and intensified security operations in major cities.

On the battlefield, the Houthi militia has stepped up its attacks using drones and artillery shelling, primarily targeting the fronts of Marib, Lahj, and Shabwa. In the Harib front, repeated drone strikes resulted in the killing of three soldiers and injuries among the Shabwa Defense Forces. Meanwhile, a Southern Forces soldier was killed in the Karsh front, north of Lahj, by Houthi artillery fire. The group also targeted the Marib–Al-Bayda road in an apparent attempt to disrupt civilian movement.

These operations have been accompanied by escalatory rhetoric from the Houthi leadership amid the broader regional tensions between Washington and Tehran. The group has threatened to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, alongside reports of declared consultations with Saudi Arabia under UN auspices that appeared to sideline the internationally recognized Yemeni government backed by Riyadh.

In response, southern fronts witnessed defensive operations against Houthi attacks, most notably in Al-Dhalea, where the Southern Forces announced thwarting a large-scale assault and forcing the attackers to retreat while inflicting human and material losses.

On the security front, Aden emerged as a key hub for operations. Security forces announced the dismantling of a “terrorist cell” linked to a series of assassinations, including the killing of school principal Abdulrahman Al-Shaer in Al-Mansoura. The operations led to the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of weapons and vehicles used in the crimes. A suspect described as an “extremist element” was also killed during a raid in Dar Saad.

In parallel, security forces conducted wide-ranging crackdowns on organized crime, including the arrest of drug trafficking networks and the seizure of large quantities of hashish and weapons. Authorities also dismantled networks involved in smuggling irregular African migrants in Abyan, where 25 traffickers were arrested and their camps shut down.

In Hadramout, intensive security operations continued, with authorities seizing fuel smuggling depots, heavy weapons, and advanced communication equipment. Attempts to smuggle items through the Port of Mukalla were also foiled. Additionally, security forces confiscated explosives and munitions during raids, indicating the spread of illicit weapons caches following the targeting and withdrawal of the Southern Forces from parts of Hadramout.

On the humanitarian side, rights reports revealed alarming civilian casualty figures. The Southern Independent Group documented the killing of 133 people and the injury of 333 others as a result of Saudi airstrikes and attacks by Saudi-backed forces during the first months of the year, calling for an international investigation into these incidents.

Aden also witnessed protests by the wounded of the 2015 war, who attempted to stage an open-ended sit-in to demand their rights, amid tight security measures that prevented them from reaching government headquarters.

Regarding military restructuring, efforts have emerged to integrate the Hadrami Elite Forces into security structures in the Hadramout Valley and Desert. These moves coincided with biometric registration campaigns for soldiers across multiple fronts, carried out by a Saudi committee in areas including Aden and Mocha in Taiz. New appointments were also issued, most notably the appointment of Brigadier Hamid Shukri as commander of the Fourth Military Region, as part of broader military measures by the Saudi-backed authorities.

The same period also saw intensified military activity, including drills and exercises by the Giants Brigades and “Nation’s Shield” forces, alongside direct Saudi support—reportedly for the first time—to the Shabwa Defense Forces with equipment and vehicles.

These developments come as public mobilization grows ahead of planned mass events marking the anniversary of the Aden Historic Declaration and the establishment of the Southern Transitional Council on May 4 across several cities in South Yemen.

Explore South24’s interactive map now: