Doha: The governor of Yemen's eastern province of Hadhramaut announced that government forces had successfully taken control of military camps previously held by the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
According to Anadolu Agency - English, Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor, stated on Friday that government forces have regained full control of all military sites from the STC forces in the province. The operation was described as being executed smoothly and with high national spirit, achieved through coordination among various military and security units, as reported by the state news agency Saba.
Governor al-Khanbashi also commended the political leadership for its support in empowering local authorities to fulfill their security and military duties, which he believes is crucial for preserving national gains and enhancing stability across the Hadhramaut province.
The STC forces had captured Hadhramaut and al-Mahra in eastern Yemen last month. However, government forces reclaimed full control of these regions on Sunday. These areas are significant as they account for nearly half of Yemen's territory and share borders with Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week of encouraging STC forces to carry out military operations along the kingdom's southern border in Hadhramaut and Mahra, a claim that Abu Dhabi has denied.
The STC argues that successive Yemeni governments have politically and economically marginalized southern regions, calling for secession. Yemeni authorities, however, reject this claim and reaffirm their commitment to maintaining the country's unity.