Overview
- Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced a move to retake sites in Hadramawt, giving the governor full authority over Homeland Shield forces for what it called a peaceful handover.
- STC officials said seven fighters were killed and more than 20 wounded when coalition airstrikes hit the Al-Khash’a camp, marking the first reported deadly strikes in this phase.
- The STC says it will stay in seized areas but will integrate or allow deployment of National Shield units, a step Saudi sources call insufficient as they demand a withdrawal from Hadramawt and Mahra.
- Flights at Aden airport were halted after a dispute over new inspection requirements for UAE routes, as the Saudi ambassador accused STC leader Aidarus Al-Zubaidi of blocking a Saudi mediation flight.
- The rupture between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi widened after coalition strikes on an alleged Emirati weapons shipment at Mukalla, with the UAE denying the claim and announcing the pullout of remaining troops.