Sanaa: Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council has enacted a significant reshuffle of senior civilian and military officials in the southern regions of the country, with the Aden governor and key military commanders being dismissed amid rising tensions in the eastern provinces.

According to Anadolu Agency - English, council chairman Rashad al-Alimi issued a decree that removed the commander of the Second Military Region, Maj. Gen. Talib Saeed Abdullah Bargash, and the commander of the Al-Ghaydah Axis, Maj. Gen. Mohsen Ali Nasser Marsa'a, in the eastern province of Al-Mahra. Both commanders were referred for investigation following their dismissal.

The decree also appointed Salem Ali Saad Ahmed Makhbal Kada as the new commander of the Al-Ghaydah Axis, promoting him to the rank of brigadier general. In addition to the military changes, Alimi dismissed Aden Governor Ahmed Hamed Lamlas and referred him for investigation, appointing Abdulrahman Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Yafei as the new governor of Aden.

Yemeni government forces recently recaptured the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Mahra from the Southern Transitional Council (STC) fighters, who had seized the regions last month. These areas account for nearly half of Yemen's territory. Government troops have also advanced toward Aden, which serves as the country's temporary capital.

The recent military developments have been exacerbated by accusations from Saudi Arabia that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is encouraging STC forces to conduct military operations along the kingdom's southern border in Hadhramaut and Mahra. The UAE has denied these allegations.

The STC argues that successive Yemeni governments have politically and economically marginalized the southern regions, advocating for secession. However, Yemeni authorities dispute this claim, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining the country's unity.