Aden, Yemen – Reliable field sources in Hadramawt reported a complete collapse within the ranks of the militias of Sheikh Amr bin Habrish, leader of the Hadramawt Tribal Alliance. This occurred in the face of the advance of the Hadrami Elite Forces, affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, as part of Operation “Promising Future.”
Sources confirmed the surrender of large groups of Bin Habrish’s fighters and their disarmament. Reports also indicated that Bin Habrish himself fled towards Wadi Sana (a remote mountainous region in Wadi Hadramawt). This is seen as an attempt to hide or regroup his forces after the Southern Forces seized key strategic locations, most notably the oil companies in PetroMasila and the plateau.
Mass surrender and details of the escape
Tribal and military sources announced that large groups of Bin Habrish’s fighters surrendered their weapons en masse to elite forces in the Al-Masila area and Sector 14 of PetroMasila. This included wounded fighters and former soldiers.
The surrender operations were accompanied by the immediate release of prisoners and a general amnesty offered by the Southern leadership to those who committed to a peaceful withdrawal.
Farar bin Habrish
Local sources report that Bin Habrish has left his main positions for Wadi Sana, accompanied by two close commanders. This comes amidst chaos within his tribal alliance.
This defection follows his earlier retreat from his demands for autonomy and rights for Hadramawt. He had previously agreed to withdraw in exchange for the cancellation of the arrest warrant issued against him and Mubarak al-Awthani, and a guarantee that they would not be prosecuted.
Control of strategic locations
Southern forces managed to clear the plateau and forcibly reopen the oil pipeline after Bin Habrish’s forces fled en masse from their positions protecting oil companies.
The clashes resulted in the deaths of several Hadrami elite soldiers and injuries to others while securing the oil fields.
This collapse follows the Southern Forces’ takeover of the First Military Region Command in Seiyun and its airport. This occurred as the vanguard of armored units reached the outskirts of the valley in response to the massive demonstrations in Seiyun on November 30.
Bin Habrish had temporarily seized control of oil fields in the plateau, demanding service projects. He ultimately fled after military pressure and a popular mandate from Hadramawt to liberate the valley.
