Saudi warplanes conducted a series of airstrikes on Friday, December 26, 2025, targeting military positions linked to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's oil-rich Hadramout province. A local security official, speaking anonymously to Xinhua, confirmed the strikes hit Elite Hadrami security units aligned with the STC, escalating tensions in the protracted Yemeni conflict.
The operation underscores ongoing regional instability as Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to stabilize Yemen's fractured political landscape. Hadramout, a strategic southeastern region, has been a focal point of resource disputes and territorial control amid the multi-layered civil war.
The strikes coincide with heightened international scrutiny over Yemen's humanitarian crisis, which has drawn calls for renewed diplomatic engagement. Analysts suggest the move reflects Riyadh's determination to counter separatist factions like the STC, which seeks autonomy for southern Yemen.
Cover image: The Yemeni national flag flutters in Sanaa, Yemen, September 21, 2025. /VCG
