On December 26, local time, according to Yemeni security officials, Saudi Arabia carried out an airstrike on a military stronghold belonging to the Southern Transitional Council in the Hadhramaut Governorate in southeastern Yemen.

Since 2014, the Houthi armed group has gradually taken control of northern and northwestern Yemen, including the capital Sana’a and its surrounding highlands, as well as several Red Sea coastal provinces such as Al Hudaydah. Southern and eastern Yemen, however, are characterized by the coexistence of multiple factions. The internationally recognized Yemeni government maintains influence in some ports and cities, while the Southern Transitional Council and several local armed groups hold de facto power in Aden Governorate and some southern coastal areas.

The Southern Transitional Council was established in May 2017 with the aim of achieving self-determination and eventual independence for southern Yemen. Although the group has joined the Saudi-led multinational coalition fighting the Houthis since 2022 and is part of the Yemeni government’s Presidential Leadership Council executive body, it continues to insist on achieving “sovereignty” for the southern region. This has led to repeated conflicts with the Yemeni government over power-sharing and resource control.

Hadhramaut Governorate

Hadhramaut is a historic governorate in eastern Yemen, renowned for its ancient civilization and as a key hub of the incense trade routes dating back over two millennia. It is famous for its distinctive mud-brick skyscraper architecture in cities like Shibam and Tarim, which were central to Islamic scholarship and commerce. Today, it remains a culturally significant region, though it faces modern challenges within Yemen.

Sana’a

Sana’a is the capital of Yemen and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history dating back over 2,500 years. It is renowned for its unique multi-story Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring thousands of distinctive tower houses built from rammed earth and decorated with intricate geometric patterns. Historically, it was a major center on the ancient incense and spice trade routes, and its rich architectural and cultural heritage reflects centuries of Islamic and pre-Islamic influence.

Al Hudaydah

Al Hudaydah is a major port city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, historically significant as a key trading hub for centuries. It gained prominence in the 19th century under Ottoman rule and later became a vital entry point for goods and aid into Yemen. Today, it remains a crucial economic center, though it has faced significant damage during the ongoing Yemeni Civil War.

Aden Governorate

Aden Governorate is a coastal region in southern Yemen, historically significant as a major port and trading hub due to its strategic location at the entrance to the Red Sea. Its capital, the port city of Aden, served for over a century as a key British colony and refueling station until Yemeni independence in 1967. Today, it remains a vital economic center, though it has faced significant conflict in recent years.

Southern Transitional Council

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) is a political organization in southern Yemen, formed in 2017, that advocates for the secession and independence of the former South Yemen. It emerged from the Southern Movement, which began in 2007, and its roots trace back to the historical separation of North and South Yemen prior to their unification in 1990. The STC currently functions as a de facto governing authority in parts of southern Yemen, backed by the United Arab Emirates, and is a major actor in the ongoing Yemeni Civil War.

Houthi

“Houthi” refers to a political and military movement in Yemen, officially known as Ansar Allah, which emerged in the 1990s from the Zaidi Shia community in the north. It gained international prominence by seizing the capital, Sana’a, in 2014, leading to a complex civil war and a major humanitarian crisis. The group’s name derives from its founding leader, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi.

Yemeni government

The modern Yemeni government is a presidential republic, currently led by a Presidential Leadership Council following years of civil war. Its history is marked by the unification of North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) and South Yemen (People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen) in 1990, though the nation has since endured significant instability, conflict, and humanitarian crisis.

Presidential Leadership Council

The Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) is the current executive body of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, established in April 2022 to replace former President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. It was formed to unify political and military leadership during the ongoing civil war and consists of eight members representing major anti-Houthi factions. The council’s creation aimed to streamline decision-making and present a cohesive front in peace negotiations and the conflict against the Houthi movement.