Saudi-Led Coalition Vows Immediate Action Against STC Movements in Yemen
Riyadh- KSA , 27 December 2025
Saudi-Led Coalition Vows Immediate Action Against STC Movements in Yemen:
In a sharp escalation that threatens the fragile unity of the anti-Houthi alliance, the Saudi-led coalition issued a stern “final warning” Saturday to the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
Following a month-long military offensive codenamed “Operation Promising Future,” which saw the UAE-backed STC seize control of 95% of southern Yemen—including the oil-rich Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah provinces—Riyadh has demanded an immediate withdrawal.
The coalition’s spokesperson, Major General Turki al-Maliki, confirmed that any further unauthorized military movements will be met with “direct and immediate force” to protect civilians and national sovereignty.
Headline Points:
• The “Red Line” Crossed:
Saudi Arabia characterizes the STC’s expansion into Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah as an “unjustified escalation” and a rebellion.
• Warning Airstrikes:
Saudi warplanes conducted targeted strikes on STC-affiliated military sites in Ghayl bin Yamin on Friday as a show of force.
• Control of Oil Wealth:
The STC now holds approximately 80% of Yemen’s proven oil reserves, a major point of contention for the central government.
• Humanitarian Violations:
PLC President Rashad al-Alimi has formally requested coalition intervention, citing “serious violations” by STC armed groups.
• UAE Stance:
While the STC is UAE-backed, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has called for a return to joint Saudi-Emirati mediation to prevent a total collapse.
A Coalition at the Breaking Point
The internal war within the “legitimacy” coalition has reached its most dangerous phase since the conflict began.
While the world’s eyes are often on the Houthi-held north, the south has become a tinderbox of competing ambitions.
The STC, which seeks the restoration of an independent South Yemen, has moved with lightning speed in December 2025 to consolidate its grip on the southern coastline and the strategic border with Oman.
The Saudi-led coalition’s threat of direct action is an attempt to preserve the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), which Riyadh views as the only legitimate governing body.
By seizing the headquarters in Aden and the oil fields in the east, the STC has effectively stripped the PLC of its economic and territorial viability.
Warning Strikes and the “Silent War”
The tension turned kinetic on Friday when Saudi aircraft targeted positions held by the Hadhrami Elite Forces—a militia loyal to the STC. While these were described as “warning strikes” with no reported casualties, they served as a clear message from Riyadh: the “red line” has been crossed.
This follows reports of clashes between STC forces and Saudi-backed tribal groups that left at least 22 people dead or wounded earlier this week.
The STC has responded with defiance.
On Saturday, the council stated that its presence in the eastern provinces is a necessary measure to “cut off supply routes and prevent smuggling” to the Houthi group. However, the international community sees this as a pre-emptive strike by the STC to secure its borders before any potential peace deal is finalized between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in the north.
The Battle for Hadhramaut’s Wealth
The province of Hadhramaut is the crown jewel of the Yemeni economy, containing the vast majority of the nation’s oil infrastructure.
The STC’s occupation of the PetroMasila oil company facilities has halted production, further strangling the already crippled Yemeni economy.
For the Saudi-led coalition, allowing the STC to retain control of the oil fields would be tantamount to recognizing an independent southern state by default.
Prince Khalid bin Salman’s recent public appeal for the STC to “peacefully hand over” military camps to the National Shield Forces reflects the urgency of the situation. Riyadh fears that if the anti-Houthi front remains divided, the Houthis in Sana’a will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the chaos.
UN Special Envoy has called for “maximum restraint” as the situation in the east threatens to open a new, even more complex front in the decade-long civil war.
The hundreds of tribesmen gathering in Aden on Saturday to wave the flag of South Yemen alongside the UAE flag illustrate the deep-seated desire for secession that continues to drive this conflict.
The coming days will be a test of diplomacy between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. If a peaceful withdrawal is not negotiated, the “direct response” promised by the coalition could turn the southern offensive into a full-scale confrontation between former allies, further destabilizing the vital shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden.
