Saudi Defense Minister Urges Southern Transitional Council to De-escalate in Yemen

Dubai – Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has called on the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to respond positively to Saudi-Emirati mediation efforts and reduce tensions in eastern Yemen. He urged the STC to withdraw its forces from camps in Hadramout and Al-Mahra and hand them over peacefully to local authorities.

In a statement on social media platform X addressed “to our people in Yemen,” Prince Khalid emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s intervention was at the request of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Kingdom aims to restore state authority across Yemen through operations such as Decisive Storm and Restoring Hope.

Prince Khalid highlighted that the southern issue has always been treated as a just political cause, best resolved through dialogue and consensus. He cited the Riyadh Conference and the Riyadh Agreement as frameworks that promote southern participation in governance and reject the use of force.

The minister warned that recent events in Hadramout and Al-Mahra since early December have created divisions, undermining the fight against Yemen’s common enemy and harming the southern cause. He praised southern leaders and groups who have acted responsibly to support de-escalation and maintain social stability.

Prince Khalid reaffirmed that the southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political settlement in Yemen and stressed that it must be addressed through trust-building and national consensus, rather than actions that could escalate conflict.