Killing of Yemeni commander raises security concerns in Hadramawt
ADEN – A senior commander in Yemen’s Homeland Shield Forces was assassinated in an ambush by unidentified gunmen in the eastern province of Hadramawt on Saturday, highlighting the persistent security challenges facing the strategically important region despite the government’s efforts to consolidate control there.
Brigadier General Osama Abdulkarim Mohsen al-Radfani, commander of the Fourth Brigade of the Homeland Shield Forces, was killed along with several of his escorts in the Al-Abr area of Hadramawt, according to a statement issued by the force.
The Homeland Shield Forces condemned what they described as a “treacherous criminal assassination”, expressing condolences to the families of those killed and saying the attack was an assault on public security and stability that violated religious values, humanitarian principles and tribal traditions.
The force called for those responsible to be identified and brought to justice in order to uphold the rule of law and safeguard public security. It did not provide further details on the circumstances of the attack, and no group had claimed responsibility by Saturday evening.
Initial local reports said Radfani, also known as Abu al-Ezz, was ambushed by armed assailants while travelling through Al-Abr, a key transit area linking Hadramawt with neighbouring provinces. The identities and motives of the attackers remain unclear.
Radfani was one of the most prominent commanders in the Homeland Shield Forces, a military formation established in 2023 by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi and placed directly under his authority as supreme commander of Yemen’s armed forces. The force has played an increasingly important role in government operations aimed at restoring security and extending state authority across several provinces.
His killing comes less than two weeks after another attack targeting Homeland Shield personnel in the Ramah district of Hadramawt left five soldiers dead and three others wounded, pointing to the continued ability of armed groups to carry out deadly operations despite recent military gains by government forces.
The assassination is likely to intensify concerns over security in Hadramawt, Yemen’s largest province by area and one of its most strategically significant regions because of its oil resources, extensive coastline and location bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Government forces reasserted control over the province earlier this year following tensions and clashes with forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, as part of efforts to strengthen central government authority and stabilise the province.
Security analysts say the killing appears intended to undermine those efforts by targeting a senior commander at a time when the government is seeking to cement its influence in Hadramawt. They say the attack also demonstrates that armed groups or sleeper cells remain capable of mounting sophisticated operations against senior military figures.
The assassination underscores that the challenge facing the authorities in Hadramawt is no longer solely military. It also depends on the ability of security and intelligence agencies to dismantle militant networks, prevent renewed instability and preserve the security gains achieved in recent months.
Radfani had previously come to prominence during internal disputes within the Homeland Shield Forces in early 2025 over command appointments and the planned relocation of his brigade. More recently, he had been appointed to command forces in the Al-Rayyan area, where tribal movements have intensified in recent months, increasing his profile in eastern Yemen.