Saudi Arabia urges Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council to urgently withdraw forces from Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, citing unilateral moves that harm Yemeni interests.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has called on Yemeni separatists to urgently withdraw their forces from recently seized territory, warning of an unjustified escalation.
The Saudi foreign ministry said military movements by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra governorates were conducted without approval.
These unilateral actions harmed the interests of all Yemeni people, the ministry stated in a release.
It expressed hope that public interest would prevail through de-escalation.
“The Kingdom remains hopeful that the public interest will prevail through ending the escalation by the Southern Transitional Council and the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates in an urgent and orderly manner,” it said.
A Saudi-Emirati military delegation visited Aden this month to ask the STC to return the two provinces.
A source close to the STC told AFP the group refused the request.
The STC, part of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, swept through areas this month, expelling other forces.
The UAE-backed group seeks to revive the formerly independent South Yemen.
Yemen’s government and its Presidential Leadership Council are split between Saudi-backed figures and UAE-backed separatists.
The kingdom said its efforts for de-escalation are ongoing.
The 11-year war pits Iran-backed Houthi rebels against the Saudi-led coalition supporting the government.
