Will southern forces allow the return of Muslim Brotherhood influence to Hadramaut and Al-Mahra?
Mohammed Abdulmalik Al-Zubaidi, head of the Executive Authority of the Southern Transitional Council for the affairs of Wadi and Desert Hadhramaut, has shut the door on calls for a military withdrawal from the area, affirming that southern armed forces will remain in their positions and will not move, in response to popular demands from residents of the governorate.
In remarks to Sky News Arabia, Al-Zubaidi explained that the security situation in the Wadi and desert districts has been fully stable since the deployment of southern forces, noting that conditions are proceeding normally without any recorded breaches or violations.
He stressed that this military presence is in everyone’s interest, saying the forces have succeeded in thwarting arms-smuggling schemes intended for the Houthi militia, reflecting their pivotal role in securing the region and protecting the South’s strategic depth.
Speaking about the actors that previously controlled the area, Al-Zubaidi sharply criticized the “First Military Region,” describing it as a blend of Muslim Brotherhood and Houthi influence, “by the testimony of the entire world.”
In a firm tone, Al-Zubaidi said: “We will not accept any Brotherhood-aligned forces in Hadramaut, and we are fully ready to confront them.”
He added that the southern forces will not back down from defending their land, pointing out that the people of the South support this presence, which has put an end to years of security disorder and partisan dependency.
Despite the tough rhetoric, Al-Zubaidi affirmed that the Transitional Council has never rejected dialogue, expressing the readiness of forces on the ground to cooperate and coordinate with any other southern forces that help entrench security and stability, away from the agendas of groups seeking to tie Hadramaut to their own projects.
These statements come at a time when Yemen is witnessing intense debate over military arrangements in the eastern governorates. The Transitional Council insists that clearing the Wadi of “the remnants of Brotherhood influence” is the key first step to securing the province’s future and safeguarding the aspirations of its residents.
