A strike hits the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Seiyun, in the Hadhramaut governorate, on Jan. 2, 2026, as the Saudi-led coalition retaliates against the rapid advance of the Southern Transitional Council, backed by the United Arab Emirates, threatening a major confrontation. AFP PHOTO / ADEN INDEPENDENT CHANNEL (AIC TV) A video grab taken on Jan. 3, 2026 from images released by Aden Independent Channel (AIC TV) on Jan. 2, 2026, shows the moment a strike hits the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Seiyun, in the Hadhramaut Governorate, as the Saudi-led coalition hit back against a sweeping advance by the UAE-backed Southern Transition Council, threatening a major confrontation. Yemen's UAE-backed separatists announced a two-year transition to independence January 2, 2026, despite reporting 20 deaths in airstrikes from a Saudi-led coalition trying to roll back their weeks-long offensive across the country's south. Yemen, which was divided into North and South from 1967 to 1990, could again be split in two years if the STC's independence plan comes to fruition. It would call the new country "South Arabia". (Photo by ADEN INDEPENDENT CHANNEL (AIC TV) / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ADEN INDEPENDENT CHANNEL (AIC TV)" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Gunfire was heard Saturday morning in Mukalla, the capital of Yemen’s southern Hadramout province, which was recently seized by separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates, an AFP journalist reported.
Fighters from the Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of large areas in December, including parts of this oil-rich region, prompting deadly retaliatory strikes by the Saudi-led coalition, which is allied with the Yemeni government.
Gunfire was heard Saturday morning in Mukalla, the capital of Yemen’s southern Hadramout province, which was recently seized by separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates, an AFP journalist reported.
Fighters from the Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of large areas in December, including parts of this oil-rich region, prompting deadly retaliatory strikes by the Saudi-led coalition, which is allied with the Yemeni government.
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