Saudi Arabia Strikes UAE-Backed Yemeni Separatists Amid Deepening Gulf Rift
Southern Transitional Council accuses Riyadh of air attacks on its forces in Hadramaut after refusing to withdraw from seized provinces
Saudi Arabia is reported to have conducted airstrikes against forces of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council in the eastern governorate of Hadramaut, in an escalation that highlights growing tensions between Riyadh and its erstwhile coalition partner, the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE-backed separatist group, which earlier this month seized control of Hadramaut and the adjacent Al Mahra province from government-aligned forces, said the strikes occurred in the Wadi Nahb area after clashes in which two of its fighters were killed and a dozen wounded.
Separatist media described the Saudi operation as a warning to abandon recently captured territory, although the Saudi-led coalition has not officially confirmed the strikes.
The reported bombings followed a public call by Saudi Arabia for the Southern Transitional Council to withdraw from areas it secured in December and return to pre-offensive positions under a negotiated framework aimed at preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity and stability.
Riyadh’s appeal aligns with efforts to maintain cohesion within the broader anti-Houthi alliance, which has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the north since 2015. The Southern Transitional Council, once part of the Saudi-backed coalition, has insisted its presence in the east is necessary to counter security threats and disrupt supply routes to Houthi-controlled areas, rejecting calls to withdraw and asserting its actions reflect the will of people in southern Yemen.
The United Arab Emirates has publicly endorsed Saudi efforts to reinforce security and stability in Yemen, even as it continues to support the separatists’ political aims.
The reported air attacks mark a significant shift from diplomatic pressure to military action and risk deepening fissures between Saudi Arabia and the UAE within Yemen’s pro-government camp.
Control of Hadramaut carries strategic importance due to its energy resources and key transport corridors, making the province a focal point in the broader struggle over southern Yemen’s future governance and influence in the region.
The UAE-backed separatist group, which earlier this month seized control of Hadramaut and the adjacent Al Mahra province from government-aligned forces, said the strikes occurred in the Wadi Nahb area after clashes in which two of its fighters were killed and a dozen wounded.
Separatist media described the Saudi operation as a warning to abandon recently captured territory, although the Saudi-led coalition has not officially confirmed the strikes.
The reported bombings followed a public call by Saudi Arabia for the Southern Transitional Council to withdraw from areas it secured in December and return to pre-offensive positions under a negotiated framework aimed at preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity and stability.
Riyadh’s appeal aligns with efforts to maintain cohesion within the broader anti-Houthi alliance, which has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the north since 2015. The Southern Transitional Council, once part of the Saudi-backed coalition, has insisted its presence in the east is necessary to counter security threats and disrupt supply routes to Houthi-controlled areas, rejecting calls to withdraw and asserting its actions reflect the will of people in southern Yemen.
The United Arab Emirates has publicly endorsed Saudi efforts to reinforce security and stability in Yemen, even as it continues to support the separatists’ political aims.
The reported air attacks mark a significant shift from diplomatic pressure to military action and risk deepening fissures between Saudi Arabia and the UAE within Yemen’s pro-government camp.
Control of Hadramaut carries strategic importance due to its energy resources and key transport corridors, making the province a focal point in the broader struggle over southern Yemen’s future governance and influence in the region.
