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| Yemen’s Seismic Shift Has Consequences Beyond Its Borders |
| 2025-12-24 |
| by April Longley Alley Dr. April Longley Alley is a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute, where her research focuses on Yemen and the Gulf. Brief Analysis [WASHINGTONINSTITUTE] U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE are on a collision course in Yemen, as local forces threaten to reopen a war that could boost the Houthis, deepen Red Sea instability, and otherwise undermine the Trump administration’s Middle East goals. The situation in Yemen shifted dramatically this month when southern separatist forces aligned with the United Arab Emirates swiftly captured two large governorates that comprise nearly half of the country’s territory: the oil-producing region of Hadramawt, which borders Saudi Arabia, and al-Mahra, which borders Oman. The offensive gives the Southern Transitional Council (STC)—which has been uncomfortably part of the internationally recognized government for three years—effective control over most of the former “South Yemen,” an independent state prior to 1990. It also moves the group one step closer to its own goal of independence. From a distance, this may appear to be a purely internal affair. It is not. Saudi Arabia views the 425-mile border and deep cultural ties it shares with Hadramawt as important elements of its national security, and Oman views al-Mahra in a similar vein. Riyadh is now demanding the withdrawal of UAE-backed forces, but the STC is refusing to comply. The standoff risks upending Yemen’s fragile three-and-a-half-year truce, renewing a war that has repeatedly played to the advantage of the Iran-backed Houthis. It could also further strain relations between key U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who are already at loggerheads in Sudan. More at the link Related: Hadramawt: 2025-12-18 Iran, the Houthis, AQAP, and Al-Shabab are the principal losers from the STCouncil’s takeover of Hadramawt and Mahra Hadramawt: 2025-12-13 What's at stake as Yemeni separatists gain ground? Hadramawt: 2025-12-11 Emirates vs. Saudi Arabia: Houthi enemies divide Yemen and fight each other Related: Al-Mahra: 2025-12-18 Maj. Gen. Talib Barjash, former commander the 2nd Military Region has defected to the STC Al-Mahra: 2025-02-12 Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance Challenges Yemen's Government Authority Al-Mahra: 2023-05-13 Saudi Arabia calls on Egyptian support as conflict with UAE-backed forces in Aden escalates |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #2 |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2025-12-24 09:19 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: Grom the Affective 2025-12-24 03:43 |