Aden, December 2025 | Prime Headlines:
Yemen’s conflict has taken a dramatic turn after the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) captured around one-third of the country’s territory in less than a week.
Starting in early December, the STC launched “Operation Promising Future,” rapidly taking control of key cities and regions, including Seiyun (capital of Hadhramaut), Al Ghaydah (capital of Al-Mahrah), major oil facilities, military bases, and Seiyun International Airport. Government forces largely withdrew without major fighting.
The STC now controls more than 155,000 square kilometers, including Aden, Abyan, Lahj, Dhale, Shabwa, and most of Hadhramaut. The speed of the advance shocked observers — Seiyun fell within hours, and Hadhramaut was secured within two days.
Ironically, the STC is part of Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council, meaning it seized territory from a government it officially belongs to.
STC forces were reportedly equipped with UAE-supplied armored vehicles and artillery. Meanwhile, fighting continues in some areas. In Abyan, STC forces launched a separate operation against militant groups. A retaliatory attack killed four STC fighters and injured several others.
The takeover highlights the collapse of the Saudi-brokered Riyadh Agreement, meant to unite anti-Houthi factions. Yemen now appears effectively divided: Houthis in the north, separatists in the south, and a weakened central government with limited control.
Analysts warn the STC now controls enough land to seriously push for a separate southern state, accelerating Yemen’s fragmentation as humanitarian conditions continue to worsen.
