Forces from the Southern Transitional Council (STC) have taken control of Yemen’s two eastern governorates, Hadhramaut and al Mahrah, to the dismay of both Saudi Arabia and Oman. The Saudi kingdom backs the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG), which had already lost control of Yemen’s capital Sana’a and much of its territory to the rival administration formed by Ansar Allah. Now the IRG is in further disarray.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which joined the Saudi-led military coalition fighting against Ansar Allah, has given its support to the STC. Saudi Arabia has withdrawn all its military forces to the border area, and diplomatic efforts to solve this major challenge to the IRG’s authority show little sign of success to date.

For the past three years, Hadhramaut has been the focus of a struggle between the separatist STC and the IRG’s pro-unity elements, with the former being stronger on the coast while the latter had their main base in the interior. STC control of almost all of Hadhramaut as well as al Mahrah has created chaos and instability in the one part of Yemen that had previously remained stable since the beginning of the conflict in 2015.