Saudi Airstrikes Target UAE-Backed Separatists in Southern Yemen

On January 2, 2026, Saudi warplanes conducted airstrikes on forces affiliated with the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's Hadramout governorate. The strikes targeted STC camps after the separatists refused to withdraw from the area, according to Ahmed bin Breik, STC deputy and former Hadramout governor.

The STC had recently seized control of oil-rich regions in Hadramout and Mahra, displacing the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces. This move intensified tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both members of the coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Iran-backed Houthis.

Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout appointed by Yemen's government, described the operation as a "responsible pre-emptive measure to remove weapons and prevent chaos." The Saudi-led coalition has demanded the STC's withdrawal from Hadramout and Mahra to de-escalate the situation, a demand the STC has so far rejected.

In a related development, Saudi Arabia mandated that all flights between Aden and the UAE undergo inspection in Jeddah, a move criticized by Yemen's transport ministry, which is aligned with the STC. The ministry expressed "shock" and called for a return to previous flight protocols. The Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, accused STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi of blocking a Saudi mediation delegation from landing in Aden, despite prior agreements.

These developments underscore the growing rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE within the coalition, complicating efforts to stabilize Yemen amid its ongoing civil war.