In a sharp escalation within Yemen’s anti-Houthi coalition, the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council has expelled and charged with treason Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), after he failed to attend talks in Riyadh. Saudi-led coalition aircraft responded with strikes on STC forces, killing at least four people, while the separatists denied Zubaidi had fled and called for an end to the bombardment.
The presidency, overseeing Yemen’s internationally recognized government, issued a decree stripping Zubaidi of his membership and referring him for prosecution on charges including high treason, undermining Yemen’s unity, and forming armed gangs. Saudi Arabia’s military coalition stated that Zubaidi “fled” from Aden and mobilized a large force towards al-Dahle province, prompting pre-emptive airstrikes to disrupt his plans.
Coalition aircraft conducted limited strikes on STC positions in al-Dahle early Wednesday, with local hospital sources reporting at least four civilian deaths. The coalition justified the action as necessary to prevent an escalation of conflict, while the STC condemned the “unjustified” attacks and demanded an immediate halt to the bombardment.
Contradicting Saudi claims, the STC asserted that Zubaidi remains in Aden, continuing his duties and supervising military and civilian institutions. The group expressed surprise at the strikes, calling them inconsistent with the climate of dialogue, and raised concerns about the whereabouts of its delegation in Riyadh, which had traveled for talks.
This confrontation highlights the deepening rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both key members of the coalition fighting Houthi rebels but now at odds over influence in southern Yemen. In recent weeks, STC forces had advanced into eastern provinces, only to be pushed back by Saudi-backed troops, amid accusations of Emirati support for separatist ambitions.
The infighting threatens to further fragment Yemen’s anti-Houthi alliance, complicating efforts to end the decade-long civil war. While the coalition focuses on battling the Iran-backed Houthis in the north, the south has become a battleground for competing interests, with the STC advocating for an independent state and Saudi Arabia prioritizing a unified Yemen under its influence.
Casualties from the strikes add to Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, where millions are displaced and reliant on aid. The violence in al-Dahle underscores the precarious security situation, with civilians caught in the crossfire of power struggles among supposed allies.
Looking ahead, the expulsion of Zubaidi and the military clashes cast doubt on the viability of dialogue in Riyadh. Both sides have expressed commitment to talks, but the immediate escalation suggests fragile trust. The international community is likely to urge restraint, as renewed conflict in the south could derail broader peace efforts and exacerbate regional tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
