Yemeni government forces entered the city of Mukalla, the capital of the eastern Hadhramout province, on Sunday following the withdrawal of fighters from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), according to local media. State-run Yemen TV reported that the Nation's Shield Forces moved into the city through its eastern entrance, without providing further details. Footage aired by the channel showed government troops entering Mukalla as residents lined the streets to welcome them. Yemeni government sources said that STC forces withdrew from a number of facilities and positions in the city on Saturday. Mukalla is the most important city in Hadhramout and is home to the Al-Dhabba oil port and Al Rayyan International Airport. The Nation's Shield Forces confirmed they had provided a safe corridor for STC fighters to withdraw from Al-Mahra toward Aden. They said STC forces were allowed to leave the city carrying only personal weapons, adding that government forces had secured full control of Mukalla Port. Footage broadcast by Yemen TV also showed government forces operating from Al Rayyan International Airport. The developments came a day after government forces took control of the eastern Al-Mahra province and Hadhramout's desert and valley regions from STC troops. Yemen has witnessed an unprecedented escalation since Tuesday, after STC forces took control of Hadhramout and Al-Mahra in early December. The two provinces account for nearly half of Yemen's territory and share borders with Saudi Arabia. — Agencies
