Yemen Escalation Splits Gulf Allies as Saudi-Backed Forces Push Out UAE-Backed Separatists

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday voiced deep concern over a sharp escalation in Yemen, after Saudi-backed government forces moved into areas seized last month by UAE-backed southern separatists, triggering the most serious rift in years between the two Gulf allies.

The fast-moving crisis has fractured the coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government and opened an open feud with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is backed by the UAE and seeks independence for southern Yemen.

Territorial Gains and Rapid Escalation

Saudi-backed forces said they had taken control of key locations in Hadramout, Yemen’s largest province, which stretches along the Saudi border and holds strategic and economic importance. On Saturday, witnesses reported that government troops had entered parts of Mukalla, the provincial capital.

The Saudi-backed governor of Hadramout said authorities would allow safe passage for STC fighters withdrawing from Mukalla and eastern areas toward Aden, aiming to prevent further bloodshed.

UAE Calls for Restraint, Dialogue

In a statement, the UAE urged all Yemeni parties to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue to preserve security and stability, signalling concern over the widening split among anti-Houthi forces.

The appeal came just hours after the STC announced plans to hold a referendum on independence within two years, its clearest move yet toward reviving a separate South Yemen state.

STC Accuses Riyadh-Backed Factions

The STC called on regional and international leaders to intervene against what it described as a “Saudi-backed military escalation” in Hadramout and Mahra provinces. It accused northern Islamist factions — an apparent reference to the Islah party within the recognised government — of targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, claims that could not be independently verified.

Air Travel Disrupted, Blockade Claims

The crisis has also disrupted civilian life. Aden airport, the main transport hub for areas outside Houthi control, has been closed since Thursday following a dispute over new flight restrictions imposed by the recognised government on routes involving the UAE.

Both the STC and Saudi Arabia have blamed each other for the suspension. The STC said southern Yemen was effectively under a land, sea and air blockade.

Political Efforts to Defuse the Crisis

Overnight, Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, said he had asked Saudi Arabia to host a forum aimed at resolving the “southern issue” and bringing all factions to the table.

The leadership of the internationally recognised government — including ministers affiliated with the STC — has since relocated from Aden to Saudi Arabia, which views the southern separatist push as a direct security threat.

Strategic Stakes and Regional Fallout

Yemen occupies a critical geostrategic position between Saudi Arabia and the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital shipping route linking Europe and Asia. The STC has long been part of the recognised government and the anti-Houthi coalition, making the current confrontation particularly destabilising.

The crisis marks the deepest split in decades between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, former close allies whose differences on Yemen and broader regional security have increasingly diverged. Analysts say the dispute could spill over into other arenas, including energy diplomacy, as both countries attend an upcoming OPEC meeting on output policy.

From Seizure to Secession Bid

The confrontation began early last month when STC forces suddenly seized large swathes of territory, including Hadramout, briefly asserting control over most of the former South Yemen, which merged with the north in 1990.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia bombed a base in Hadramout and demanded that all remaining UAE forces leave Yemen, calling their presence a red line for its security. The UAE subsequently complied.

The STC’s declaration of a two-year transition leading to an independence referendum now signals a decisive push toward secession, raising fears of renewed fragmentation in an already war-torn country.