AL MUKALLA: Separatists from Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council said on Thursday that Saudi-aligned government forces would enter territories seized by the UAE-backed group, in a step that appeared unlikely to satisfy Riyadh after it repeatedly demanded their full withdrawal.
A surprise offensive by the STC, in which the separatists took control of resource-rich Hadramawt and Mahra provinces last month, has brought the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, officially allies in Yemen, to a point of unprecedented tension.
On Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen struck what it said was a shipment of Emirati weapons in the port of Mukalla destined for the separatists, a claim Abu Dhabi has denied, and demanded that STC forces withdraw from the newly captured territory.
In its statement on Thursday, the STC said it would continue to operate in the regions but had agreed to the deployment of the Riyadh-backed National Shield government force in the areas.
“Today, we launched an operation to integrate the southern National Shield forces so that they can assume the responsibilities and missions that fall to our armed forces,” they announced.
The statement said a National Shield brigade would be deployed in “areas of the Hadramawt and Mahra governorates, as agreed”.
But a source close to the Saudi government told AFP on Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s security needs would only be met if the STC “move out of Hadramawt and Mahra”.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, said the redeployment of government forces did not go far enough.
“We have to wait and see what is carried out on the ground,” they added.
Another source close to the Saudi military told AFP the Riyadh-led coalition was closely following events on the ground and making its own assessment.
The STC later dismissed criticism of the deal, saying that the government forces that would enter their areas would be predominantly made up of southerners who had been funded and supervised by Saudi Arabia.
“Their deployment along the Saudi border nullifies any argument used by those lying in wait to incite Saudi Arabia,” STC spokesman Anwar Al Tamimi told AFP.
‘SECURITY DEMANDS’
Farea Al-Muslimi, a Gulf and Yemen researcher at the UK-based Chatham House think tank, characterised the deployment as a “face-saving measure” on the part of the STC that had been offered to Riyadh and rejected in the past.
“If a complete withdrawal and handover of Hadramawt and Mahra takes place, it could be a prelude to de-escalation,” he told AFP.
“If it doesn’t happen… it will never resolve Saudi Arabia’s clear and direct security demands,” Muslimi added.
Musaed Salem — a bus driver who lives in Qatn city in Hadramawt — told AFP he was relieved to hear of the latest decision by the STC to allow government forces into their territories, saying he hoped it brought greater stability and eased tensions.
“We don’t want war. We want security and stability in Hadramawt and everywhere,” he said.
