Saudi Arabia bombed positions held by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen’s Hadramout province on Friday, escalating an internal conflict between two supposed allies in the war-torn country.
The strikes followed a failed Saudi mediation effort after the STC abruptly broke its alliance with Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) in December, seizing control of several provinces. In response, the PLC, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a ground operation to drive STC forces from Hadramout.
The STC, long committed to the independence of South Yemen, has positioned itself as a more aggressive counterforce to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the north. But its recent territorial ambitions and rejection of Saudi diplomatic overtures triggered Riyadh’s military retaliation.
The Saudis accused the UAE of secretly resupplying STC forces and undermining Yemen’s stability, calling the STC’s actions a threat to “the kingdom’s national security.” The coalition cited two ships that docked in Mukalla with vehicles and weapons bound for the separatists.
In response to the unrest, the PLC declared a 90-day state of emergency, accusing the STC of mutiny orchestrated by the UAE. The governor of Hadramout called for the STC’s immediate withdrawal to avoid further violence, though reports suggest clashes and casualties have already occurred.
STC spokesman Mohamed al-Nakib accused the Saudis of allying with Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda militias and warned that separatist forces are now on full alert.
The UAE expressed “surprise” over the airstrikes, rejected Saudi accusations, and confirmed its final counterterrorism units have exited Yemen. Meanwhile, STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi announced a two-year transitional countdown to an independence referendum for South Yemen.
