Mukalla: Airstrikes hit the headquarters of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Yemen's eastern city of Mukalla, witnesses reported to Anadolu. The strikes, which occurred on Saturday, have escalated tensions in the southern parts of the country.

According to Anadolu Agency, plumes of smoke were seen rising from the Parshid Brigade headquarters located west of Mukalla, the provincial capital of Hadhramaut province. As of now, there are no confirmed details regarding casualties or the identities of those responsible for the airstrikes.

The Hadhramaut Protection Forces, a tribal group loyal to the Yemeni government, announced they had captured several military sites from the STC within the same city. They also advised residents to avoid locations where STC fighters are present and to cease looting and theft.

In response to the escalating situation, Hadhramaut Governor Salem al-Khanbashi urged security forces and residents to protect both public and private properties from potential acts of vandalism amid ongoing clashes with STC fighters.

These developments follow the Yemeni government's announcement that its Nation's Shield Forces had secured full control of the desert and valley region of Hadhramaut and were advancing toward the province's coastal districts, including Mukalla.

Hadhramaut, Yemen's largest governorate by area, accounts for about one-third of the country's total territory. It is divided into two administrative parts: the coastal districts, with Mukalla as the largest city, and the Valley and Desert districts, with Seiyun as the largest city.

Yemen has experienced an unprecedented escalation since Tuesday, following the STC forces' takeover of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra in early December. These two provinces represent nearly half of Yemen's territory and share a border with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of encouraging STC forces to conduct military operations along its southern border in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, an allegation that Abu Dhabi has denied. The STC claims that southern regions have been politically and economically marginalized by successive Yemeni governments and is calling for secession. Yemeni authorities, however, reject this claim and reaffirm their commitment to the country's unity.