Government forces in Yemen captured Mukalla city from STC (Photo- Reuters)
Reuters, Sana. Yemen's Saudi Arabia-backed internationally recognized government has said it has captured the city of Mukalla, expelling STC fighters. The city is the capital of Hadramaut province and has a major port in the eastern part of the country.
The city was captured by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in December. But STC still controls a large part of the country. The Iran-backed Houthi organization is in control of another part of the country.
In the war raging in Yemen, the interests of two powerful friendly countries of the Arab world are clashing and they have come face to face. While Saudi Arabia stands with the recognized government, the UAE stands with the STC.
Whereas both the countries intervened together in 2014 to save Yemen from Houthi rebels and after a long war, they reached an agreement with Houthi rebels in 2022. But STC's capture of Mukalla in December again disturbed the internal equation of Yemen and fighting started there.
In the latest fighting, STC fighters have set up blockades on the road linking Hadramaut province to Aden to prevent the advance of government forces. STC has also appealed for international intervention to stop the Saudi Arabia-backed military force.
Saudi Arabia and STC have accused each other of worsening the situation. Whereas the UAE has expressed serious concern over the situation in Yemen and appealed to the concerned parties to exercise restraint.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's presidency, has appealed to Saudi Arabia to call a meeting of leaders of the concerned parties to calm the matter.
While the area outside Aden International Airport is under the control of Houthi fighters. Houthi has blocked traffic in this area since Thursday. Meanwhile, planes coming from the UAE have been banned at airports controlled by the internationally recognized government.