Monthly Briefing/ December– 2025
Political Scene
Yemen witnessed unprecedented political escalation in December 2025 within the camp of the internationally recognized government and the Arab Coalition, reflecting a shift from political management disputes to the imposition of new realities on the ground by force, particularly in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. The Saudi-Emirati rift also shifted from political divergence to direct field confrontation, as the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council’s escalation pushed Riyadh to redefine the coalition — up to and including the use of force — opening a trajectory that effectively aims to end the Emirati military presence in Yemen.
1 December – Sheikh Amr bin Habrish accused STC forces and allied tribal groups of invading Hadhramaut and seizing the Al-Dhabba oil terminal by force. He held the UAE-backed STC responsible for attempting to impose a separatist project and take control of oil resources, calling on Saudi Arabia and the international community to intervene.
4 December – Presidential Leadership Council member Sultan al-Aradah returned to Marib in his first appearance since December 2024, amid growing tensions following the STC’s takeover of government sites, oil facilities, and a military camp near the governorate.
9 December – UN Envoy Hans Grundberg emphasized restraint and de-escalation in the eastern governorates after meetings in Riyadh, reaffirming his commitment to supporting dialogue and stability.
10 December – The Yemeni Socialist Party, the Nasserist Unionist Party, and the Union of Popular Forces described the STC’s actions in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra as a direct driver of escalation. They blamed the Presidential Leadership Council for widening divisions and called for implementing the Riyadh Agreement and empowering local authorities.
15 December – STC President Aidarous al-Zubaidi met with Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Barakani at Maashiq Palace in Aden to discuss the implications of the military movements in Hadhramaut, amid fears over the cohesion of the Presidential Leadership Council.
15 December – Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi warned against unilateral measures that threaten unified security and military decision-making, reaffirming—during his meeting with the U.S. Ambassador—commitment to recognized references and political partnership.
17 December: The Southern Transitional Council reiterated that engagement with Israel is not fundamentally rejected, framing it as part of broader regional trends.
20 December: The UAE-backed STC convened its supreme executive leadership at the Ma’ashiq Palace in Aden — a move reflecting its bid to impose a parallel authority despite Saudi and international pressure.
23 December: The UN Security Council reaffirmed its commitment to Yemen’s unity and sovereignty, expressed support for the Presidential Leadership Council and the government, called for de-escalation, and urged the Houthis to release detained UN staff.
23 December: Emirati media coverage intensified its promotion of southern secession as a “realistic solution,” portraying the STC as an alternative to the state — a narrative that entrenches a path toward partition.
25 December: The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that the military movements in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra took place without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coalition coordination, calling for de-escalation and the immediate withdrawal of forces.
25 December: Political parties and entities warned against some government officials’ endorsement of the STC’s unilateral measures, viewing it as a threat to national decision-making unity and a direct service to the Houthis.
26 December: The UAE-backed STC expressed surprise over Saudi warning airstrikes on the Hadhramaut plateau, despite ignoring Saudi calls to withdraw its forces, amid intensifying confrontations and growing public rejection in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra.
27 December: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman called on the STC to end the escalation and immediately withdraw its forces from Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, stressing that the southern issue is a just political cause that cannot be resolved by force, and reaffirming the coalition’s support for legitimacy, protection of civilians, and response to any unlawful military movements.
27 December: The U.S. State Department called for restraint and the continuation of diplomatic efforts to bring peace to Yemen, expressing concern over the STC’s escalation in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. The statement coincided with President Al-Alimi’s call on the coalition to intervene to protect civilians and support de-escalation.
30 December: Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi declared a 90-day nationwide state of emergency starting 30 December 2025, against the backdrop of military escalation in the east. He accused the STC and the United Arab Emirates of rebellion and undermining state unity, directing forces to coordinate with the Saudi-led coalition and hand over sites to the “National Shield Forces.”
30 December: President Al-Alimi warned against any rebellion against state institutions, vowing firm action against the STC’s escalation in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, and accusing the UAE of providing the group with weapons.
30 December: President Al-Alimi announced the termination of the UAE’s role in the Arab Coalition supporting legitimacy and demanded that Emirati forces leave Yemen within 24 hours.
30 December: Saudi Arabia called on the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours, warning of the dangers posed by its support for STC military movements in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra that threaten Saudi national security. Riyadh reaffirmed its support for President Al-Alimi, stressing that the Kingdom’s security is a red line.
Military Scene
The military escalation in December 2025 reflected the shift of the conflict within the legitimacy camp into open confrontations in the eastern governorates, alongside continued Houthi escalation in Taiz and Marib, and Saudi airstrikes on the port of Mukalla targeting large weapons shipments smuggled from the UAE.
3 December: STC forces completed their takeover of key cities and strategic locations in Wadi Hadhramaut (Hadhramaut Valley) — including Seiyun, Tarim, Al-Qatn, Seiyun Airport, and the First Military Region headquarters — following limited clashes that resulted in deaths, injuries, and detainees.
4 December: STC forces redeployed around oil companies on the Hadhramaut plateau and extended control over important positions after a Saudi-brokered calm, amid mutual accusations and the use of heavy weapons.
4 December: Military leaders arranged the handover of positions to the Military Police in Al-Mahra, while the STC announced it had assumed control of the Al-Ghaydah Axis and the 137th Brigade without fighting.
12 December: A joint Saudi–Emirati military team arrived in Aden to contain tensions in eastern Yemen and support the cohesion of the Presidential Leadership Council.
13 December: The Chief of Staff’s Office mourned 32 soldiers from the First Military Region killed in an STC-linked attack in Wadi Hadhramaut, accusing the assailants of executing wounded personnel and detainees.
18 December: The Yemeni Armed Forces described the STC’s unilateral measures in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra as a “second coup” that threatens state unity and legitimacy.
26 December: Fierce clashes erupted between STC forces and armed members of the Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance north of Al-Shihr, resulting in casualties and heightened tension. Tents belonging to Hadhramaut tribes gathered in Wadi Nahb (Nahb Valley) were burned, coinciding with a Saudi call on the STC to withdraw its forces from Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, as the confrontations expanded on the ground.
30 December: The Saudi-led Arab Coalition requested the immediate evacuation of civilians from the Port of Mukalla in preparation for a military operation, saying the measure aimed to protect them amid rising security tensions in Hadhramaut and official warnings that the STC was imposing a new reality by force and threatening vital facilities and maritime routes.
30 December: The Saudi-led coalition carried out limited airstrikes at the Port of Mukalla targeting weapons shipments and armored vehicles brought in without official clearance, after tracking two vessels arriving from the UAE’s Fujairah Port that had disabled their tracking systems, confirming that no civilian casualties occurred.
Security Scene
The security landscape was marked by continued Houthi escalation in Taiz and Marib, terrorist incidents and targeted attacks in government-held areas, alongside emerging security clashes in the east between government forces and STC units.
2 December: The Philippine Foreign Ministry announced the release of nine Filipino sailors from a ship held by the Houthis, following Omani mediation.
7 December: Two children were injured by Houthi artillery shelling on eastern neighborhoods of Taiz, prompting retaliatory fire from government forces.
9 December: Heavy clashes erupted on Taiz’s eastern front after government forces foiled a Houthi infiltration attempt in the Al-Karefat sector.
20 December: Marib security services announced the arrest of the leader of a Houthi cell specialized in manufacturing improvised explosive devices, in a pre-emptive operation.
25 December: The Houthis buried five of their military commanders in Sana’a without disclosing the circumstances of their deaths, amid speculation they were killed in external airstrikes months earlier.
27 December: Saudi journalist Hussein Al-Ghawi revealed that forces affiliated with the STC attempted to abduct Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi from the Ma’ashiq Palace after sudden tensions, noting that Saudi intervention prevented the attempt.
Economic Scene
Warnings grew throughout December over the impact of political and military escalation on Yemen’s fragile economy — particularly the seizure of oil facilities and the threat to international aid — making political stability essential for any economic recovery.
9 December: Analyses highlighted the deepening economic and monetary fragmentation between different parts of Yemen, noting that dual financial policies hinder comprehensive economic reform and prolong financial collapse.
14 December: Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi stressed that the withdrawal of STC forces from Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra is essential for normalization, warning that the IMF may suspend its activities.
15 December: The World Bank warned of unprecedented economic pressures on Yemen due to halted oil exports and declining foreign currency inflows, signaling further contraction and undermining the government’s ability to meet basic obligations.
25 December: News reports linked the political and military escalation in eastern Yemen to worsening economic conditions, noting that disputes over sovereign resources weaken international confidence and obstruct efforts to stabilize public finances.
26 December: An economic report warned that the STC’s expanding control in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra threatens economic stability, disrupts oil and port revenues, deepens the government’s fiscal crisis, accelerates currency depreciation, and narrows prospects for recovery.
28 December: A UN report classified Yemen among the world’s most severe hunger hotspots, attributing this to economic collapse, declining incomes, and halted oil exports, and confirming that the humanitarian crisis is now directly tied to economic paralysis and the absence of financial stability.
Human Rights &Violations
The human rights situation witnessed a dangerous escalation in violations committed by both the Houthis and the STC, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances — prompting UN condemnations and calls for international investigations.
1 December: The Houthi Public Prosecution referred 12 individuals to trial on charges of espionage, as part of a wave of prosecutions targeting detainees and UN staff.
15 December: UN Secretary-General António Guterres discussed developments in Yemen and the situation of detained UN personnel with the Sultan of Oman, praising Oman’s role.
16 December: A citizen died under torture in Houthi prisons in Amran, days after being abducted.
19 December: The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms reported documenting 614 violations committed by STC-aligned forces in Hadhramaut during December 2025 — including killings, injuries, arrests, enforced disappearances, looting, and the displacement of around 5,000 families — warning that some abuses may amount to war crimes and calling for international investigation and accountability.
19 December: The Houthis kidnapped ten UN employees, bringing the total number of detainees to 69.
20 December: The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms documented 312 cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance carried out by the STC in Wadi Hadhramaut.
21 December: The STC claimed that displacement in Hadhramaut was voluntary, despite UN reports confirming ongoing forced displacement resulting from military escalation and the group’s expanding control.
23 December: The World Food Programme announced that the number of its staff detained by the Houthis had risen to 38.
25 December: The SAM Organization stated that the STC’s escalation in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra was accompanied by serious violations, including killings, arrests, and forced displacement.
30 December: The United Nations announced, for the first time, the use of an alternative route through Saudi Arabia to ensure the continuity of humanitarian operations in Marib — home to more than two million displaced people — confirming that Saudi support enabled passage via the Al-Wadi’ah crossing, marking a practical shift in humanitarian logistics after years of reliance on Sana’a.
