Khaberni - Influence in the geography of Yemen is distributed among several active parties and key players who have a military and political presence. Below is a brief overview of these parties and the extent of their influence on the ground, revealing the identity of the main military and political actors.
The Southern Transitional Council
According to field estimates, the Southern Transitional Council currently holds the greatest influence over the geography of Yemen, especially after recently seizing the provinces of Hadramawt and Mahra, with the council and its armed formations controlling about 52% of Yemen’s territory.
One of these formations is known as the Hadrami Elite, which controls the coast of Hadramawt.
The Council was established in May 2017 and advocates for the "restoration of the Southern state" as it was before Yemen's unification in 1990.
It participates politically through the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council, which includes leaders connected to the Transitional Council, among them Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami, and Faraj Al-Bahsani.
The strength of the Transitional is based on southern armed formations, notably: the Security Belt Forces, the Elite Forces (Shabwani and Hadrami), and the Giants Brigades.
Ansar Allah Group (Houthis)
They control approximately 33% of Yemen's territory according to estimates, with their influence concentrated in the northern areas of Yemen and the more densely populated regions.
The Legitimate Government
The internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Presidential Leadership Council retain fragmented influence over nearly 10% of Yemen's territory. According to recent reports, the legitimate authority enjoys a strong presence in Mareb and parts of Taiz within a camp opposing Ansar Allah (the Houthis).
Tariq Saleh Forces
Also known as the Republican Guard Forces.
These forces are positioned on the western coast, controlling about 5% of Yemen's territory, and are based on a military and political structure centered around Al-Mokha city (west of Taiz province), with an extension along the coastal strip towards Bab al-Mandab.
Alliance of Hadramawt Tribes and Hadramawt Protection Forces
The Alliance of Hadramawt Tribes is a tribal and political actor proposing regional autonomy for Hadramawt within the Yemeni state framework, and sources have mentioned efforts by the Alliance to expand recruitment and build local formations during 2025 as part of its political project.
The Alliance also announced the establishment of what is called the Hadramawt Protection Forces as a military arm.
In eastern Yemen, the Peaceful Sit-in Committee in Mahra stands out as a significant local actor in the Mahra province, established in 2018 and led by Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Huraizi.
