Separatist Attack in Eastern Yemen Leaves 32 Soldiers Dead

At least 32 government soldiers have been killed in a recent attack by separatist forces in eastern Yemen, the army announced on Saturday.

The clashes erupted last week between fighters loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), backed by the United Arab Emirates, and the Saudi-backed government, raising fears of deeper divisions in the war-torn country.

The STC claims to have seized large portions of Hadramaut and al-Mahra provinces—together covering nearly half of Yemen—sparking urgent calls for calm from both local and international actors.

According to the army of the internationally recognized government, 45 soldiers were also injured, while several others remain missing following the assault in Hadramaut. Though no exact date was given, the attack is believed to have taken place earlier this month.

The military condemned the assault as unjustified and aimed at destabilizing the oil-rich province.

While the STC and government forces have long fought side by side against Houthi rebels, the separatists have repeatedly defied their allies, seeking greater territorial control and pushing for southern secession.

Yemen, once divided until its 1990 unification, has been mired in conflict since 2014, when Iran-linked Houthi rebels seized vast areas of the north, including the capital Sana’a.