Tensions in Yemen have escalated after the separatist Southern Transitional Council claimed Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on its forces in Hadramout.
A new flashpoint has emerged in war-torn Yemen after separatist forces accused Saudi Arabia of launching airstrikes against their fighters in the country’s south. The claims were made by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is supported by the United Arab Emirates and has recently taken control of parts of Hadramout and Mahra provinces. Riyadh has not officially confirmed the strikes, though reports suggest they were carried out as a warning to the separatists to pull back.
Accusations of Saudi attacks
According to the STC, its forces came under attack in Hadramout on Friday soon after they faced what it described as “multiple ambushes” by unidentified gunmen in the area. Two of its fighters were killed and a dozen others injured. The group’s foreign affairs representative, Amr Al Bidh, said the airstrikes began shortly after these clashes. The Council stated that its operations were aimed at pursuing a wanted individual and stopping fuel and arms smuggling in eastern Yemen.
Eyewitnesses in the region reported seeing destroyed vehicles following the aerial bombardment, claiming they belonged to STC-linked fighters. While Saudi authorities have declined to comment, the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat quoted sources who said the strikes were intended “to send a message” to the separatists and warned of stronger measures if they continued their advance.
Saudi warning and troop movements
The airstrikes came a day after Riyadh publicly urged the Emirati-backed forces to withdraw from captured territories. An official in Yemen’s internationally recognised government told AFP that Saudi Arabia might intervene militarily if negotiations fail. Around 15,000 Saudi-backed troops have reportedly been deployed near the border, though they have not been ordered to move forward.
The areas of confrontation mark the edges of STC-controlled land seized earlier this month from the Saudi-supported National Shield Forces. The south of Yemen remains a patchwork of rival groups, each backed by regional powers with conflicting interests.
Rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE
The latest developments have intensified friction between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, close allies within OPEC but competitors for influence in Yemen and across the Red Sea region. Despite their differences, Abu Dhabi released a statement endorsing “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to restore stability and security in Yemen” while reiterating its commitment to broader peace and development initiatives.
Shadow of a larger war
The events come against a backdrop of escalating instability across the Middle East. Yemen’s decade-long conflict began when the Iran-backed Houthi movement captured the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, forcing the internationally recognised government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in 2015 with military and intelligence support from the United States. The prolonged conflict has killed more than 150,000 people and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.
After the Gaza war erupted in 2023, the Houthis expanded their campaign by attacking Israel and maritime routes. Although a ceasefire has recently reduced proxy attacks, renewed infighting in southern Yemen could force the United States and its allies back into direct involvement.
The US State Department has urged all sides to show restraint and engage in dialogue. It expressed appreciation for Saudi and Emirati diplomatic efforts, calling for a “lasting and inclusive solution” to Yemen’s crisis.
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