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Houthi and Al-Qaeda Attacks Target Southern Forces Amid Rising Tensions in Hadhramaut

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South 24 | South Eye

Southern forces stationed in Northern Al-Dhalea governorate announced on Saturday, August 9, that they had thwarted a major Houthi assault on the Bab Ghalq front. 

According to reports, clashes also erupted within the Houthi ranks in nearby Al-Hasha district after some recruits refused to fight in Al-Dhalea, resulting in casualties among their forces.

In an earlier incident, a soldier was killed and four others wounded on Thursday, August 7, when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near a military vehicle belonging to the Security Belt Forces in Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate, South Yemen. Security sources told ‘South24’ that the attack bears the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

The blast occurred near Urmah junction as a support unit passed, partially destroying the vehicle. This marks the latest in a series of suspected AQAP operations against Southern forces.

The attacks coincide with heightened political and security tensions in Wadi Hadramout, where protests have gripped Tarim city since July 31 following the killing of a local youth, Yadeen, by the First Military Zone troops.

On August 7, demonstrators blocked the international road between Tarim and Seiyun, demanding the release of 35 detainees held during protest-related security operations. Residents reported military deployments along the route as protesters decried the violent storming of residential neighborhoods.

Wadi Hadramout Security Committee stated that the security operations had responded to the road blockades, and pledged full investigations into the killing of the youth. They later released the detainees following local mediation.

On August 8, Southern Transitional Council (STC) president Aidrous al-Zubaidi spoke with Hadramout's deputy governor, stressing on the protection of protestors and urged for solutions to the electricity and service crises.

The Hadramout Tribal Alliance led by Amr bin Habrish has condemned the military aggression against Tarim residents, warning that any threat to their security would be considered an attack on the alliance. The STC reiterated its demand for the First Military Zone's withdrawal, calling its presence a violation of the 2019 Riyadh Agreement.

Hadramout has seen weeks of protests over the prolonged power outages and economic collapse—grievances echoed in Aden, Al-Dhalea, and other Southern cities.

On August 9, AQAP’s media arm “Al-Malahem” released a statement addressing the ongoing unrest in Hadramout. The group framed the protests in Tarim as a “popular uprising” against what it described as the “U.S.-backed government” and called for the continuation of the blockade on oil exports from the governorate. It also accused Washington of orchestrating the recent appreciation of the Yemeni riyal in government-controlled areas as part of a “deceptive plan” to placate public anger.

The statement included religious justifications for armed resistance and urged supporters to prepare for military action. AQAP warned local traders and communities against cooperating with government forces, while appealing to tribal groups in Hadramout and other parts of Yemen to join what it called a campaign to “expel the occupiers.” The group’s rhetoric highlights its attempt to capitalize on local grievances to expand influence amid the current political instability.