• Saudi-backed forces have retaken control of key regions in Yemen, including the port city of Mukalla.
• More than 100 Saudi airstrikes targeted separatist positions, causing casualties.
• The United Arab Emirates has withdrawn its forces from Southern Yemen amid escalating tensions.
• Yemen's Presidential Council leader announced a conference aimed at resolving southern issues.
• Continued clashes have resulted in significant losses for the separatist Southern Transitional Council.

Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, have successfully retaken the port city of Mukalla in Hadramout province from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, declared that the forces had achieved “record success” in regaining control over military and security positions in the province bordering Saudi Arabia, following operations that began just days earlier, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

Saudi airstrikes have intensified in response to the STC's recent control over territories in Hadramout and al-Mahra, with reports indicating that over 100 air assaults targeted various locations within 24 hours, leading to significant casualties among the separatists. The strikes specifically targeted the Barshid Brigade camp, a critical position facilitating STC movements towards Mukalla, according to LA Times and SCMP.

The recent developments reveal a shift in the ongoing civil war in Yemen, where the dynamics continue to evolve, primarily due to tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The UAE's withdrawal of its forces has been interpreted as a response to pressures from Saudi Arabia amid escalating conflict over influence in the region. Notably, this maneuvering among regional powers comes as the STC has begun advocating for a constitution aimed at establishing independence for South Yemen, indicating deepening political divides, according to LA Times and Al Jazeera.

As fighting escalates, there have been reports of significant losses, with at least 80 STC fighters killed and many others injured or captured in recent clashes. Both sides continue to experience substantial casualties, highlighting the ongoing volatility in Yemen’s southern region. An official from the STC reported heavy air raids that significantly impacted their military capabilities, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has proposed a conference in Riyadh aimed at fostering discussions among southern factions to address ongoing conflicts, a move welcomed by the STC as a potential “genuine opportunity” for dialogue and resolution. However, the STC has faced criticism for imposing restrictions in Aden, complicating the political landscape as various factions vie for control in the region, according to LA Times and Al Jazeera.