Saudi fighter jets strike UAE-backed separatists in southern Yemen

Saudi-backed Yemen government launches operation against UAE-backed separatists

ADEN, Yemen,— Saudi warplanes carried out airstrikes on Friday targeting forces allied with the United Arab Emirates in southern Yemen, according to statements from leaders of the Southern Transitional Council. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and Saudi officials did not comment publicly on the strikes.

The strikes took place in the eastern governorate of Hadramout, a strategically important region bordering Saudi Arabia. The area has recently become a focal point of growing tensions between rival factions backed by regional powers operating within Yemen.

Ahmed bin Breik, deputy head of the Southern Transitional Council and a former governor of Hadramout, said Saudi backed forces advanced toward camps held by the separatists before the airstrikes occurred.

He said STC fighters refused to withdraw from their positions, which was followed by the reported aerial attacks. He did not provide details on damage or losses.

The Southern Transitional Council, known as the STC, is a separatist group supported by the UAE and seeks to restore South Yemen as an independent state. The group expanded its presence last month into Hadramout and the neighboring governorate of Mahra, seizing camps and facilities, including sites in oil rich areas.

Several of those locations had previously been controlled by the National Shield Forces, a Saudi backed formation aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The National Shield Forces are part of the coalition established to counter the Iran aligned Houthi movement, which controls much of northern Yemen.

Following the airstrikes, Yemen’s Saudi backed government announced that it had launched an operation against UAE backed separatist forces in Hadramout as part of what it described as an effort to restore order and prevent instability.

The government said the operation was intended to secure military camps and stop their use in ways that could threaten security in the region.

As part of the move, the internationally recognized government appointed Salem al Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout, to take overall command of Saudi led forces operating in the governorate. The decision granted him broad military, security, and administrative authority.

In a speech broadcast on state media, al Khanbashi described the operation as peaceful and preventive. He said it was not a declaration of war and was not aimed at escalating violence.

“This operation is not a declaration of war and does not seek escalation,” al Khanbashi said. “It is a responsible measure to remove weapons, secure camps, and prevent chaos or the use of military sites to undermine security in Hadramout.”

Saudi Arabia, which leads the military coalition backing Yemen’s recognized government, has demanded that STC forces withdraw from Hadramout and Mahra as part of de escalation efforts. The STC has so far refused to hand over its weapons or leave the camps it controls.

The Saudi led coalition also announced additional security measures beyond land operations. Coalition spokesperson Brigadier General Turki al Maliki said Saudi backed naval forces had been deployed across the Arabian Sea to conduct inspections and combat smuggling, according to a statement posted on X.

The confrontation has extended into diplomatic and transportation disputes. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al Jaber, accused STC leader Aidarous al Zubaidi of obstructing mediation efforts by preventing a Saudi delegation from landing in the southern city of Aden.

Al Jaber said Saudi Arabia had spent weeks attempting to reduce tensions through dialogue with STC leaders and urging them to withdraw from Hadramout and Mahra. He said those efforts were met with continued rejection.

According to al Jaber, a Saudi aircraft carrying a mediation delegation was denied permission to land in Aden despite prior coordination with some STC officials.

He said the delegation was intended to find a solution that would serve all parties and protect the public interest.

The STC aligned Transport Ministry accused Saudi Arabia of imposing new aviation restrictions. In a statement, the ministry said Riyadh required flights to and from Aden International Airport to undergo inspection in Jeddah. The ministry said it was surprised by the reported decision and condemned the measures.

A spokesperson for the ministry told the Associated Press that flights between Aden and the United Arab Emirates were suspended until Saudi Arabia reversed the requirements. Saudi authorities did not confirm the restrictions.

Yemen has been engulfed in conflict for more than a decade. The Houthi movement controls much of the northern regions, while the internationally recognized government operates mainly in the south with support from Saudi Arabia. The UAE, while part of the coalition, has supported the STC, creating divisions among forces opposed to the Houthis.

Supporters of the STC have increasingly raised the flag of South Yemen, which existed as a separate country from 1967 until its unification with North Yemen in 1990. Internal rivalries among anti Houthi factions continue to complicate efforts to stabilize the country and reach a lasting political settlement.

(With files from AP | Reuters)