Saudi Arabia has failed to get guarantees from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) through local and regional intermediaries, not to ignite battles in Wadi Hadhramaut, informed political sources said.
The sources reported that the STC is preparing to fight a new battle with the Islah forces in Wadi Hadhramaut (the first military region) after receiving information reporting the arrival of military reinforcements coming from the city of Ma’rib to Seiyun.
This comes in light of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to deploy nearly 10,000 recruits from the so-called “Dera Al-Watan” Forces in the valley districts in the coming days, as part of its steps to abandon the Islah Party in Hadhramaut, and strip it of all its military and political powers in the province. In return, Riyadh’s expects to be allowed to rein in the STC, which seeks to control Hadhramaut.
Politicians confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s policy regarding Hadhramaut is moving towards an understanding with Abu Dhabi, giving part of the powers to the STC in the province, and completely overturning its alliance with the Islah Party, removing the first military region from Seiyun and replacing it with the “Dera Al-Watan” Forces.
In a television interview last Friday, STC Vice President Ahmed Saeed bin Breik confirmed the existence of an agreement to deploy the “Dera Al-Watan” Forces from the people of Hadhramaut in the valley districts instead of the “First Military Region” forces loyal to Islah.
According to new information, the Saudi-backed “Dera al-Watan Forces” are preparing their forces to be deployed in the districts of Wadi Hadhramaut and take control over the “first military region” in accordance with the Saudi dictates that seek to preserve its interests vis-à-vis the UAE.
At the same time, the Islah party pushed large military reinforcements to the oil-rich province of Hadhramaut.