Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of facilitating the escape of Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), who is wanted on treason charges. Al-Zubaidi has been pushing for an independent state in southern Yemen, with the UAE’s support, and his escape has resulted in a major escalation in the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The incident, characterised by Saudi officials as a clandestine smuggling operation facilitated by the UAE, exposes the depth of the geopolitical rift on the Arabian Peninsula, where two nominal allies now appear to be engaging in a proxy conflict within the broader Yemeni civil war.
The operation facilitating Al-Zubaidi’s escape involved UAE military and intelligence officers and was overseen by Major General Saleh Al-Ahbabi, Commander of the UAE Armed Forces’ Joint Operations. He remained in direct contact with Al-Zubaidi, guiding him step by step. pic.twitter.com/5hUaxalTlL
— Rich Tedd 🛰 ✈️ (@AfriMEOSINT) January 8, 2026
According to the Saudi-led coalition, the UAE orchestrated al-Zubaidi’s escape after he was expelled from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and formally charged with treason. The charges stemmed from his failure to attend Saudi-brokered de -de-escalation talks in Riyadh. Saudi officials claim the operation involved direct Emirati military support. Al-Zubaidi is said to have fled Aden by boat under cover of darkness to Berbera, in the breakaway region of Somaliland. From there, he reportedly travelled to Mogadishu before boarding an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft bound for the UAE. Riyadh claims the aircraft disabled its identification systems while flying over the Gulf of Oman to avoid detection, reactivating them shortly before landing at a military base in Abu Dhabi. Saudi officials note that the same aircraft type has previously been used in conflict zones, including Libya and Ethiopia.
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Supported by the UAE, the STC has sought the restoration of an independent state in South Yemen. Tensions reached a breaking point in December when STC forces advanced into the oil-rich governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, areas traditionally under the influence of Saudi-backed forces. Riyadh viewed this move as a “red line”, seeing it as a direct threat to its national security and to the territorial integrity of Yemen. The crisis deepened when Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on STC positions and destroyed what it described as an Emirati arms shipment at the port of Mukalla.
By publicly releasing intelligence details of the alleged escape route, including the aircraft involved and the purported role of an Emirati major general, Riyadh has abandoned diplomatic restraint. Saudi state-aligned media have amplified the narrative, publishing “wanted”-style posters of al-Zubaidi and portraying him as a traitor who placed foreign interests above Yemen’s unity. This campaign appears aimed at delegitimising the STC leadership while pressuring the UAE to scale back its intervention in southern Yemen.
Politically, the fallout within the STC suggests that Saudi Arabia’s strategy of isolating al-Zubaidi may be working. While he has been cast as a fugitive, Riyadh has continued engagement with other senior STC figures. The STC delegation currently in Riyadh has distanced itself from al-Zubaidi’s actions, with key members praising Saudi efforts and committing to unity. Abdulrahman al-Muharami, a senior commander and an STC official, has reportedly begun to consolidate security in Aden, ostensibly filling the power vacuum left by al-Zubaidi’s departure. Riyadh might prefer working with him as he seems to be signalling a possible retreat from secession in favour of a federal arrangement or a unified authority under Saudi oversight.
The daring escape has also drawn in neighbouring countries like Somalia, which has announced a probe into the unauthorised use of its airspace and airports. Mogadishu says the operation is a violation of its sovereignty and could hurt the UAE’s ties with Somalia.
Meanwhile, the two principal partners in the war against the Houthis, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, now appear to be openly competing for influence. Facing a firm Saudi military response, the UAE is reportedly scaling back its direct support for the STC’s expansionist ambitions, withdrawing assets from key bases. For Riyadh, the removal of al-Zubaidi and the subsequent crackdown underscore its determination to control the political trajectory of Yemen, allowing no challenge from within the anti-Houthi camp.
