Saudi Arabia has launched airstrikes in Yemen targeting a separatist militia backed by the UAE. This follows a warning issued days ago that Riyadh would intervene unless the group withdrew from the strategically vital Hadhramaut province. The escalation signals a deepening rift between the two Gulf powers, who were once the primary pillars of the anti-Houthi coalition. The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) expressed “serious concern”, accusing Saudi Arabia of targeting its elite units in Hadhramaut—a province that shares a critical border with the Saudi kingdom.
The escalation represents a critical fracture within the anti-Houthi alliance, with Saudi Arabia now confronting a group that has, until recently, operated as a nominal partner in the wider campaign. In a bold military push, the STC, a separatist movement seeking to re-establish the independent state of South Yemen that existed prior to unification in 1990, moved to seize control of Hadhramaut and the eastern province of al-Mahra, expelling forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
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Hadhramaut and al-Mahra contain Yemen’s largest oil fields, represent a vast portion of the country’s landmass, and border both Saudi Arabia and Oman. Control of these provinces offers not only economic leverage but also strategic depth, something that has alarmed Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, which leads the coalition backing the official Yemeni government, quickly issued an ultimatum demanding that STC forces withdraw peacefully and return control of the territories. Major General Turki al-Malki, the coalition’s spokesman, warned that any military activity undermining de-escalation efforts would be dealt with “directly and immediately”.
That warning soon appeared to be enforced. The STC accused Saudi Arabia of launching air strikes on its positions in the Wadi Nahb area of Hadhramaut. Video footage circulated by separatist-aligned media showed columns of smoke rising from the area, while STC officials described the incident as a “surprising aerial bombardment”. Saudi Arabia has not publicly confirmed the strikes, but analysts described them as a clear warning intended to halt the STC advance rather than to cause widespread casualties. Reports suggested the air strikes themselves caused no deaths, although clashes with Saudi-aligned tribal forces reportedly killed two STC fighters.
The latest escalation points to a shadow war between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While Riyadh insists on preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity and stopping the STC’s expansion into provinces bordering Saudi territory, the UAE has long cultivated ties with the STC, providing it with financial assistance, training and military equipment. Although Abu Dhabi’s foreign ministry issued a statement formally welcoming Saudi efforts to stabilise Yemen, observers note that the STC’s operational strength would be impossible without Emirati backing. This tension is not confined to Yemen. Analysts point to a broader geopolitical split, noting that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also backing rival factions in Sudan, where the UAE-supported Rapid Support Forces have seized strategic assets in a pattern that mirrors the STC’s grab for oil-rich territory.
The timing of the STC’s offensive appears to be driven by fear of political marginalisation. The group is deeply concerned about potential de-escalation agreements between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in the aftermath of the Gaza war. Worried that such talks could produce a settlement that ignores southern aspirations, the STC has moved to secure territory and resources to strengthen its bargaining position and ensure it has, as one analyst put it, “a piece of the pie”.
For the STC, the campaign is an existential attempt to restore the borders of the former South Yemen. However, its advance into Hadhramaut has met resistance from local actors. The province has a strong and distinct identity, and some local groups favour a federal arrangement rather than domination by the STC, raising the risk of a destructive south-on-south conflict.
The Houthis, who control northern Yemen and the capital, Sanaa, are happy to see their opponents turn on one another, allowing them to conserve resources and beef up their defences. Analysts have noted that the group has remained conspicuously quiet, avoiding rhetoric that might otherwise unite the fractured coalition against it.
As global concern grows, diplomatic leaders are moving to prevent a resurgence of conflict in Yemen. American Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged all parties to exercise restraint and prioritise de-escalation. The UN, too, has advised restraint, warning that a return to war would be catastrophic for Yemen and the broader Middle East.