Saudi-backed forces retake Yemen’s Mukalla

The Hindu
The Hindu
15h ago
Video footage obtained by The Associated Press showed the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces being welcomed by residents as troops drove through streets in armed vehicles.
Saudi-backed forces retake Yemen’s Mukalla
A What happened
Saudi-backed forces spread across Yemen’s Mukalla on Sunday (January 4, 2026) after retaking the port city, which was seized by southern separatists last month. Yemen’s internationally recognised government said it had retaken control of the key eastern port and capital of Hadramout province, with the retaking described as occurring with days of Saudi airstrikes. Residents Ahmed Samaan and Bakr al-Ketheri told the AP that the Emirati-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) had withdrawn from military camps. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (January 3) it will host a conference in Riyadh to bring together all southern factions in Yemen to discuss “just solutions to the southern cause.”
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Key insights

  • 1

    Al-Alimi reports “record success”: Rashad al-Alimi said on Facebook on Saturday (January 3) that the National Shield Forces achieved “record success” in taking back all military and security sites in Hadramout.

  • 2

    Hadramout governor given command role: Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout, was chosen on Friday (January 2) by the government to command the Saudi-led forces in the governorate.

  • 3

    Handover status described as unclear: The article says it was unclear whether the handover of camps and facilities to the National Shield Forces and local authorities had been completed.

Takeaways

Yemen’s internationally recognised government said Saudi-backed forces retook Mukalla in Hadramout province on January 4, 2026.

Topics

World & Politics International Affairs Conflicts Security & Defense

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