Yemen's internationally recognized government forces seen in Al Rayan Airbase

Yemen's Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government were seen driving through the Al Rayan Airbase on Sunday (January 4) after the forces said they had retaken control of the Arabian Sea port city of Mukalla, a key eastern port and capital of Hadramout province.

Rapid government gains since Friday (January 3) have reversed many of last month’s gains by the UAE-backed main separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Saudi-backed forces had already taken control of key locations in Hadramout, a large province with stretches of desert along the Saudi border.

Yemen, split for a decade between warring regions, sits at a highly strategic location between the world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia and the Bab al-Mandab Strait that guards the vital sea route between Europe and Asia.

The conflict between the government and the Southern Transitional Council since early last month has triggered a major feud between the Gulf powers and fractured the coalition fighting Houthi forces.

The Iran-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014 and Gulf countries intervened the following year in support of the internationally recognized government, splitting Yemen into rival zones of control.

-Abdulrahman al-Ansi and Mohammed Benmansour/Reuters