Saudi-led coalition warns of immediate action against STC advances in Yemen

The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen warned on Saturday that its forces would take immediate action against any military movements by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), in response to a request from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) to intervene to protect civilians in Hadramaut.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki quoted PLC president Rashad al-Alimi as requesting "immediate measures to protect civilians in Hadramaut Governorate as a result of the grave and horrific humanitarian violations committed against them by armed elements affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council".

The request also asked that the coalition "ensure the withdrawal of STC forces, hand over camps to the Homeland Shield Forces, and enable local authorities to exercise their responsibilities".

Al-Maliki said the coalition forces "affirm that any military movements that contradict these efforts will be dealt with directly at the time, with the aim of protecting civilian lives and ensuring the success of Saudi-Emirati efforts".

The spokesman also called on all parties to exercise restraint and to respond to efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Meanwhile, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Saturday urged the STC to respond to joint Saudi-Emirati mediation efforts. The minister also demanded that the separatist group withdraw from camps in Al-Mahra and Hadramaut, and hand them over "peacefully" to the internationally-recognised government.

The latest statements follow Saudi Arabia's demand on Thursday that the STC withdraw "urgently" from the two governorates, which were seized by the UAE- backed STC in early December.

The STC offensive pushed out forces affiliated with the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, another group aligned with the coalition in fighting the Houthis.

Yemen, engulfed in a civil war for more than a decade, has the Iran-backed Houthis controlling much of the northern regions, while a Saudi-UAE-backed coalition supports the internationally recognised government in the south.

However, the UAE also backs the southern separatists who call for South Yemen to secede once again from Yemen.