A major military operation seized swathes of southern Yemen last week, particularly in the governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra. Military factions, most notably the Emirati-backed Hadrami Elite Forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), took control of key cities under the administration of the internationally recognized government in Wadi Hadramout, such as Seiyun and Mukalla, in addition to oil facilities in al-Masila and al-Hadaba, following the withdrawal of Saudi-backed forces from these oil-rich areas.
