UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces captured Seiyun, the second-largest city in Yemen’s eastern Hadhramaut region, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The takeover is part of a newly launched campaign called “The Promising Future” and saw STC units seize key infrastructure, including the presidential palace and Seiyun International Airport, after brief clashes with troops from the First Military Region.
Yemen has been engulfed in a protracted civil war since 2014. The STC, supported by the United Arab Emirates, is a separatist movement seeking autonomy or independence for southern Yemen. While officially part of the broader coalition under the internationally recognized government, the STC’s long-term goal remains restoring a sovereign South Yemen. Hadhramaut, an oil-rich province, has largely remained under central government control, even as tensions simmered between southern separatists, tribal factions, and pro-government forces.
STC forces entered multiple strategic locations within Seiyun, including the presidential palace and the First Military Region headquarters, and took control of Seiyun International Airport. The First Military Region reportedly withdrew from checkpoints and defensive positions after limited clashes, allowing the STC to advance with minimal resistance. The takeover is part of a broader push, with STC units expanding their presence across Wadi Hadhramaut and surrounding desert areas. STC-affiliated sources claimed they now control wide areas of the valley.
The capture of Seiyun marks a significant escalation in the rivalry between UAE-backed southern separatists and Saudi-aligned pro-government forces. The province is strategically and economically important due to its oil resources and its location linking southern Yemen to Oman and the Arabian Sea. With control over key military and infrastructure assets, the STC strengthens its position and could further challenge Riyadh’s influence in Hadhramaut, potentially fueling calls for full southern secession.
Although the fighting was reportedly brief, the takeover could further destabilize a region already suffering from war and economic collapse. Control over oil fields and infrastructure may affect local livelihoods, fuel and electricity supplies, and public services. There is also a risk of displacement if violence spreads, and civilians may face insecurity or disruption of basic services due to divided political loyalties and fractured tribal allegiances.
In response, a Saudi delegation reportedly arrived in Hadhramaut to assess the situation and attempt to contain the crisis. STC leaders hailed the takeover as a “great day” marking the liberation of the valley, promising that local committees would now oversee security and administration. However, some tribal factions and regional observers warned that imposing southern rule by force could inflame old grievances and provoke backlash, threatening social cohesion in the historically autonomous region.
As of now, STC forces appear firmly in control of Seiyun and much of Wadi Hadhramaut. The operation, “The Promising Future,” represents a major shift in the power landscape of eastern Yemen. Whether the STC consolidates control, expands into neighboring areas, or faces a Saudi-led counteroffensive remains uncertain, but their ability to seize strategic ground strengthens southern aspirations for greater autonomy or full independence.
