Yemeni tribal forces on Thursday took control of a major oil terminal in the country's southeast after soldiers protecting the site withdrew, a military source said.

The terminal, in the city of Al-Shihr in Hadramawt province, "fell under the complete control of tribal fighters after the military unit guarding it withdrew in the afternoon without resistance," the source told AFP.

Various groups, including tribal forces and Al-Qaeda militants, have taken over parts of Yemen amid chaos as Iran-backed rebels battle pro-government forces for control of the country.