ADEN — Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad al-Alimi has issued a decree appointing Hadramout Governor Salem al-Khunbashi as the overall commander of the Homeland Shield Forces in the eastern governorate, the state-run Saba news agency reported on Friday.

According to the decision, al-Khunbashi has been granted full military, security and administrative authority to restore order and stability in Hadramout.

The mandate will remain in effect until the circumstances that prompted it have ended or until a new decision is issued by the chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, who also serves as supreme commander of the armed forces.

In a televised address following his appointment, al-Khunbashi accused the Southern Transitional Council (STC) of deliberately rejecting all responsible efforts aimed at de-escalation, warning that its forces had prepared plans to create widespread instability in the governorate.

He announced that the Homeland Shield Forces had launched an operation dubbed “Receiving the Camps,” aimed at taking control of military sites in a peaceful and orderly manner.

He stressed that the operation does not constitute a declaration of war but rather a preventive measure to avert chaos.

Al-Khunbashi emphasized that the operation does not target civilians or any political or social groups in Hadramout.

He said local authorities and state institutions, working in coordination with Saudi Arabia, had exerted extensive efforts to keep all political dialogue channels open, stressing that political solutions remain the safest path for resolving disputes.

“Unfortunately, we encountered a complete closure of political avenues and a deliberate rejection of responsible solutions, alongside systematic preparations to drag Hadramout into uncontrolled chaos,” he said.

He called on all social and political forces in the governorate to act responsibly at what he described as a critical stage, warning against turning Hadramout into a battleground or a tool for political pressure.

The move follows a declaration by the Homeland Shield Forces that they are ready to assume control of military positions previously held by STC forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra.

Separately, Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber said the STC leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi had refused to grant landing clearance to a Saudi aircraft carrying an official delegation to Aden on Thursday.

In a post on X, Al Jaber said Saudi Arabia had made sustained efforts over recent weeks to defuse tensions and prevent escalation, but was met with continued refusal and obstruction.

He described the suspension of flights at Aden airport as a dangerous precedent that undermines de-escalation efforts and threatens Yemen’s stability.