New Batch of Saudi Oil Derivatives Arrives in Yemen’s Hadramout, Mahra

A worker sits in an empty petrol station in Sanaa. (Reuters)
A worker sits in an empty petrol station in Sanaa. (Reuters)
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New Batch of Saudi Oil Derivatives Arrives in Yemen’s Hadramout, Mahra

A worker sits in an empty petrol station in Sanaa. (Reuters)
A worker sits in an empty petrol station in Sanaa. (Reuters)

A new batch of Saudi fuel derivatives arrived Sunday to the Yemeni provinces of Hadramout and Mahra, coming from Aden and offered under the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY).

Hadramout received 11,300 tons of diesel, distributed to 8,300 tons for the coast and 2,000 for the valley, while Mahra received 4,000 tons of diesel to meet the supplies needed for electricity generation stations in the provinces.

This grant is part of the fifth batch of the Saudi fuel derivatives offered to Yemen with amounts reaching 60,000 metric tons of diesel and 30,000 metric tons of fuel oil.

During the first four months till the end of September, the fuel derivatives grant has contributed to providing stations with more than 417,000 metric tons of diesel and fuel oil and operating 60 electricity-generating stations to produce 1,232 gigawatts of electricity.

It helped improve the general conditions in all health, educational and services sectors, in addition to increasing the operational capacity of shops, hours of electricity operations in the provinces and reduced the number of hours and frequency of electricity cut out, which contributed to realizing living and economic stability.

According to official data, the Saudi grant also increased between May and September the average consumption for each subscriber by 30 percent, provided jobs for more than 2,550 Yemeni citizens and gradually increased the sale rate by 28 percent. Aden accounted for the highest rate with 52 percent and Abyan with 34 percent, which positively reflected in payments during the same period with a hike of 54 percent.

Additionally, the transport and logistics movement went up by operating a total of 2,270 shipments. The previous batches contributed to operating electricity stations in various Yemeni provinces under the supervision and follow up of the fuel derivatives distribution committee depending on the needs previously made by the stations.

The first batch had arrived in Aden Port on May 8, the second batch on May 19, the third on July 23, and the fourth on September 19.

The four batches amounted to 417,000 metric tons, increasing the total supplies of fuel derivatives since the start of the grant to 507,254 metric tons.

According to Yemeni officials, the grant has contributed to alleviating the burden of the Yemeni government budget, limiting the consumption of the Central Bank of hard currencies to buy fuel derivatives from international markets, providing jobs, increasing the production power of Yemeni citizens, developing the services of vital sectors, improving the living conditions of Yemeni citizens, and providing general services for the citizens.

Saudi Arabia, through this grant, seeks to contribute to the stability of fuel prices, improving services in all vital sectors, developing the infrastructure and basic services in Yemen, limiting the recurrent power outages and improving the daily living of Yemeni citizens.



Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.”

In a post on the X platform, he called on the STC to withdraw its forces from the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and restore control to the National Shield and local authorities.

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia formed the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen to help the country reclaim control over all of its territories.

The liberation of southern provinces was a pivotal development towards that goal, he stressed.

Saudi Arabia “views the southern issue as fundamental” to Yemen and it will not “exploit it in conflicts that do not serve” the nation, he added.

The Kingdom had brought together all Yemeni components to the Riyadh conference to come up with a clear path for a comprehensive political solution, including the southern issue, he went on to say.

The conference paved the way for a “just solution to their cause through dialogue and without the use of forces.”

“Saudi Arabia approved the decision to move the base of power so that the southerners could have a greater role in state institutions. It consolidated partnership instead of elimination or imposing a status quo through forces. Saudi Arabia also presented Yemen with economic support, as well as development and humanitarian initiatives that helped ease the suffering of the people,” Prince Khalid added.

“Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition offered sacrifices with their Yemeni brothers in liberating Aden and other provinces,” he noted. “The Kingdom has always sought that these sacrifices be made in the name of reclaiming territories and restoring the state, not as a path towards new conflicts.”

It had hoped that these sacrifices would have been “invested in the security of all Yemeni people, not exploited for petty gains, whereby the unfortunate developments in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra since the beginning of December 2025 have led to the division in ranks that should be united against the enemy.”

“The developments have laid waste to the sacrifices of our sons and Yemeni people and have harmed the just southern issue,” stressed Prince Khalid.

He noted that several southern leaderships and figures have exhibited “awareness and wisdom in supporting efforts to end the escalation in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra and prevent the secure southern provinces from being dragged into futile conflicts.”

“They are aware of the major challenges facing Yemen and will not allow saboteurs to achieve their goals in the country and the region,” he remarked.

He declared that the “southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political solution. The cause will not be neglected or marginalized. It should be resolved through consensus, adhering to commitments and building trust between all Yemeni segments, not through adventures that only serve everyone's enemy.”


Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesman of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said on Saturday that “any military moves that violate de-escalation efforts will be dealt with directly to protect lives and ensure the success of Saudi and Emirati efforts.”

The statement is in response to a request by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, who called for immediate steps to protect civilians in the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in wake of the “grave and horrific” violations by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

It is also in continuation of the strenuous joint efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to de-escalate the situation and ensure the withdrawal of STC forces, who have been demanded to cede control to the National Shield forces and allow the local authorities to carry out their duties.

Malki underlined the Arab coalition’s continued firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government.

He also urged all sides to assume their national responsibility, exercise restraint and comply with efforts to reach peaceful solutions that preserve security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia called for calm in eastern Yemen, urging an end to unilateral military moves and for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to return to their former positions outside of the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces.

Riyadh, meanwhile, demonstrated its stance on the ground by carrying out a warning air strike, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The strike sought to deliver a message that it will not allow a new status quo to be imposed on the ground by force and that it will not allow the violation of institutional frameworks that handle security in the eastern provinces.

It warned that any further escalation will be met with firmer measures.

Meanwhile, the STC, in an attempt to justify its military moves, said they were in “response to calls from residents of the south” and an attempt to confront terrorist threats and block Houthi smuggling routes.

The STC added that it was “open to any coordination or arrangements with Saudi Arabia”, questioning the airstrike, which it said “does not serve understandings.”

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia will welcome the coordination and arrangements if they helped end the escalation, led to the withdrawal of the STC and allowed the National Shield forces and the local authority to take over Hadhramaut and al-Mahra without needing to resort to force.

They stressed that the strike will lead to delivering the clear message that Riyadh may impose red lines by force to prevent any escalation.

Sourced told Asharq Al-Awsat that any future settlement over restoring the unity of Yemeni ranks will condition a return to the former status quo.