Aden, Yemen – Heavy gunfire erupted this morning inside the central prison in Mukalla, the capital of the Hadramawt coast, prompting a security alert in the area. Videos circulating online showed chaos within the prison walls, with clashes between inmates and security forces. Some reports linked the incident to an attempted prison break, including alleged members of ISIS. Other sources mentioned the involvement of some local tribes.
For its part, the General Directorate of Security and Police in the Hadramawt Coast, affiliated with the internationally recognized Yemeni government, denied any external attack or mass escape attempt. An official statement described the incident as a “limited riot” inside the prison, carried out by a number of inmates convicted of serious criminal offenses who refused to return to their cells. The statement also confirmed that the incident was quickly brought under control by security units, who fired shots into the air to disperse the prisoners. Furthermore, legal measures were taken against those involved. The statement clarified that the circulated videos show sounds of gunfire inside the prison, but do not confirm any injuries or a prisoner escape.
This incident comes amid ongoing security tensions since the beginning of January 2026. Following the deployment of government emergency forces and the Saudi-backed Homeland Shield forces in areas previously controlled by the Southern Transitional Council, there have been withdrawals and clashes in Wadi Hadramawt and Seiyun. Local observers suggest the incident may be a reflection of attempts to incite unrest against the new control or a consequence of prison mismanagement. Others link the escalation to foreign interference and the impact of the new military deployment on local security.
