Aden (Somalia Today) — Saudi-backed forces have executed a strategic retrenchment from key military bases in southern Yemen to the eastern border regions, military sources confirmed Tuesday.
The move effectively cedes the south to United Arab Emirates-backed separatists and appears to formalise a deepening partition between the two Gulf powerhouses.
In recent days, a joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation arrived in Aden for talks aimed at containing the fallout from the STC’s sweeping territorial push into Yemen’s eastern governorates.
The escalation has already produced lethal clashes in and around Hadramaut, and sharpened questions about who truly commands anti-Houthi forces on the ground.
The Nation’s Shield Forces (NSF), a pro-government military faction, vacated its positions in Aden, Lahj, and Abyan this week. The faction, funded by Riyadh, moved troops and heavy armour to the arid corridor between Al-Wadiah and Al-Abr.
This shift places the Saudi proxy force immediately west of Hadramaut. The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized the oil-rich province earlier this month during a lightning offensive.
The maneuver appears to resolve a volatile standoff that began in early December.
Riyadh and Abu Dhabi reportedly reached an understanding. Under the deal, UAE-backed separatists will control population centres and vital PetroMasila oil infrastructure. Meanwhile, Saudi-backed units will retreat to secure the Kingdom’s southern border.
The Al-Abr corridor
The redeployment centers on the strategic route from the Al-Wadiah border crossing toward Al-Abr. Control of this road is vital for Riyadh. It serves as the main supply line into the Hadramaut valley.
It is also the only direct land link between Saudi Arabia and its allies in the east. Saudi Arabia is concentrating the NSF here to secure the “Valley and Desert” districts. This creates a buffer zone against further STC expansion.
“This is not just a troop rotation,” said Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. “It is the drawing of new borders between Saudi and Emirati spheres of influence.”
The NSF, known locally as Dir’ al-Watan, was formed in early 2023 by presidential decree. It technically falls under the direct command of Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).
Planners intended it to be a neutral unit loyal to the presidency. Instead, it has become Riyadh’s primary tool on the ground as the coalition fractures.
NSF commander Bashir Seif confirmed the move in a leaked WhatsApp recording. He congratulated his troops on the “successful redeployment.”
Notably, he did not mention President Alimi. He thanked only the Saudi Ministry of Defence. This omission highlights the erosion of the PLC’s authority.
The Hadramaut ‘fracture’
The partition follows the collapse of a fragile truce in Hadramaut. For years, UAE-backed “Hadrami Elite Forces” controlled the coast. Saudi-backed government troops held the interior.
That balance broke this month. STC forces pushed into the valley after the central government failed to act.
Saudi mediators rushed to the province to stop the advance. They announced a preliminary deal with the Hadramaut Tribal Alliance to keep PetroMasila oil facilities neutral.
However, the STC refused to withdraw. The separatists now hold leverage over the state’s main source of revenue.
This matters beyond local command-and-control. PetroMasila is widely treated as Yemen’s largest oil company, and its Hadramaut operations underpin public-sector salaries and basic services in government-held areas, making it a central pressure point in any political bargain over the south’s future.
The Saudi withdrawal extends beyond the mainland. Local reports indicate Saudi forces also left positions on Mayun Island (Perim) in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This island is a key chokepoint for global shipping.
The exit from Mayun and Aden coincided with a temporary closure of Yemeni airspace. Analysts suggest this allowed Saudi personnel to leave quietly without interference.
A ‘two-track reality’
The STC shows no sign of stopping. This week, the group announced a new military operation in Abyan. This signals an intent to expand beyond the east.
At the same time, STC chief Aidarous al-Zubaidi issued a new decree. It establishes a “Southern Fatwa Authority” to issue religious rulings.
These moves leave the internationally recognised government squeezed between two blocs. The Houthis control the north. The STC now effectively runs the south.
The economic costs are also rising. The PLC has warned of the repercussions from the IMF’s decision to suspend its activities in Yemen, a step officials have linked to the latest political and security ruptures in the eastern governorates.
“The risk is a permanent two-track reality,” said a Western diplomat. “The government is being hollowed out from within. It is little more than a spectator in its own interim capital.”
