Hadhrami Elite Forces

Hadhrami Elite Forces
قوات النخبة الحضرمية
Active2016–present
CountryYemen
TypeSpecial operations forces
Motto(s)"حضرموت لنا"
"Hadhramout is ours"
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Pilot Fayez Qahtan Al-Tamimi

The Hadhrami Elite Forces (HEF; Arabic: قوات النخبة الحضرمية, romanized: quwwā an-nukhba al-Ḥaḍramiyya) are special operations forces formed by the Arab coalition forces, under the supervision of the United Arab Emirates technical support and with funding from Saudi Arabia, to liberate the city of Mukalla from al-Qaeda.[1]

The Hadhrami Elite Forces consist of soldiers belonging to tribes who support legitimacy in exile as well as local recruits from Hadhramaut Governorate. These forces are distinguished by the fact that they are formed from those belonging to Hadhramaut Governorate only, which means that Yemenis from other regions are not allowed to join them. Emirati security officers are training the new security force, which is managed by the second Military Region in the coastal areas. It has been provided with tanks, weapons, and logistical matters, which were mostly provided by Saudi Arabia.[2]

The Hadhrami Elite Forces recruit both from the Interior (Wadis) and Coastal regions of Hadhramaut and as of 2023 they have an army of 7,000 Men. They seek a higher degree of autonomy for Hadhramaut and are aligned with the STC.[3]

The Hadhrami Elite Forces has established a strong control over much of Hadhramaut, controlling Mukalla, the capital city of the Hadhramaut Governorate and continued to expand towards many other Coastal districts.[4]

  1. ^ مأرب برس – ماذا تعرف عن قوات "النخبة الحضرمية" .. ما مهامها وأين تشكلت؟ Archived 2016-11-08 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ ما التحدي الذي تواجهه قوات النخبة الحضرمية في اليمن؟ Archived 2017-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Giegerich, Bastian (December 6, 2023). Armed Conflict Survey 2023. Taylor & Francis. p. 131.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ Yahya, Maha (2023). How Border Peripheries are Changing the Nature of Arab States. Springer International Publishing. pp. 143, 148.