Hadramout

Hadramout is a governorate located in southern Yemen, strategically important due to its size and resources. It has recently been a focal point in the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized government of Yemen (the Presidential Leadership Council or PLC), backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group supported by the United Arab Emirates. Hadramout is newsworthy because government forces recently retook control of the governorate from the STC after weeks of clashes. This shift in control is significant as the STC's expansion into Hadramout and al-Mahra had intensified Yemen's fragmentation, risking further instability. The Saudi-backed government's recapture of Hadramout is part of a broader effort to unify Yemen and counter separatist movements, although challenges remain, particularly with the Houthis controlling the northwest. The situation in Hadramout is relevant to the broader geopolitical dynamics in Yemen and the involvement of regional powers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.