Saudi Arabia Accuses UAE of Aiding Yemeni Separatist Leader's Escape

Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of assisting Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi in fleeing Yemen and traveling to Abu Dhabi. According to a statement from the Saudi-led coalition, al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), departed Aden by boat to Berbera in Somaliland. He then boarded a cargo aircraft to Mogadishu before proceeding to Abu Dhabi, allegedly under the supervision of UAE officers.

The UAE has not publicly responded to these allegations. The STC, however, maintains that al-Zubaidi remains in Aden, despite reports of his absence from scheduled talks in Riyadh.

This development follows escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over their respective roles in Yemen. The STC's recent military advances in southern Yemen have been viewed by Saudi Arabia as a threat to regional stability. In response, Saudi forces have conducted airstrikes targeting STC positions and alleged UAE-linked arms shipments.

The situation underscores the growing rift between the two Gulf nations, both key players in the coalition against Yemen's Houthi rebels, yet increasingly at odds over the country's future direction.