Mukalla

Mukalla is a strategically important port city and the capital of the Hadramout Governorate in southern Yemen. It has recently been a focal point of conflict between the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group supported by the United Arab Emirates. Mukalla's newsworthiness stems from escalating clashes between these factions vying for control of southern Yemen. Recent events include Saudi-backed government forces retaking areas in Hadramout, including those near Mukalla, from the STC. This has led to Saudi Arabia inviting Yemeni factions to a dialogue in Riyadh. The Yemeni presidential council has also demanded the withdrawal of Emirati-backed forces. Mukalla's significance lies in its strategic location and its role in the broader Yemeni conflict, where regional powers are vying for influence, potentially escalating violence.