Saudi alert in eastern Yemen amid return of tension with the UAE

The eastern governorates of Yemen witnessed an unprecedented state of Saudi alert on Wednesday amid escalating tensions again with the UAE.

Exclusive – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

Hadramout and Al-Mahrah governorates saw an intensive military deployment of Saudi-loyal factions known as “Homeland Shield.”

Images circulated by activists showed these forces establishing new checkpoints and positions on roads and land and sea ports.

The images show the elements of these factions in full combat readiness, indicating they are in a state of maximum alert.

Although these factions have imposed their control over these governorates since the success of the Saudi campaign in uprooting Emirati factions from them earlier this year, the intensive deployment reveals Saudi fears of sudden developments, especially in light of the return of tension with the Emirates.

Leaders of currents loyal to the UAE, most notably the governor of Socotra, Raafat Al-Thaqali, and the head of the so-called dissolved Council of Sons of Socotra and Al-Mahrah, Abdullah Issa bin Afrar, have once again come to the forefront with anti-Saudi statements.

The two leaders expressed their rejection of any Saudi approach that does not grant the two governorates autonomy, a move interpreted in terms of timing as an Emirati escalation, especially since it coincided with Saudi Arabia’s decision to uproot the Transitional Council, the last Emirati-loyal force in southern Yemen.