Lead: Aidarous al‑Zubaidi, leader of the UAE‑aligned Southern Transitional Council (STC), was expelled from Yemen’s Saudi‑backed presidential council and formally accused of treason after he did not join an STC delegation bound for Riyadh and, according to the Saudi‑led coalition, repositioned forces toward al‑Dahle. Coalition aircraft struck those forces early Wednesday, reports say, while the STC denied the strikes were justified and said Zubaidi remained in Aden. The moves deepen a recent southern split that has risked open fighting between separatists and government‑aligned forces.
Key takeaways
- Six other members of the Presidential Leadership Council removed Zubaidi from the council and referred him to the attorney general on charges including high treason and forming an armed gang.
- The Saudi‑led coalition reported more than 15 strikes on al‑Dahle early Wednesday after alleging Zubaidi moved a large force from Aden toward al‑Dahle; at least four civilians were reported killed.
- The STC says its delegation traveled to Riyadh and that Zubaidi remained in Aden, and it described the coalition strikes as an “unjustified” escalation.
- STC forces have seized much of southern Yemen in recent years and launched offensives in December to take Hadramawt and al‑Mahra, prompting Saudi warnings about threats near its border.
- Saudi authorities said a shipment of weapons and vehicles destined for the STC arrived from the UAE and was struck by the coalition; the UAE denied the presence of weapons and then agreed to withdraw remaining forces from Yemen.
Background
The Southern Transitional Council, backed politically and previously militarily by the United Arab Emirates, has for years pushed to reestablish an independent southern Yemeni state. Since the Houthi takeover in the northwest, southern factions and the internationally recognised government have vied for control, with the Presidential Leadership Council formed to coordinate the anti‑Houthi campaign.
In December, STC‑aligned units advanced into the eastern provinces of Hadramawt and al‑Mahra, saying the moves were needed to restore southern stability and counter extremist groups. Riyadh publicly warned those advances threatened Saudi and Yemeni security, and the kingdom accused the UAE of encouraging its separatist allies to press east.
Tensions rose further when the Saudi‑led coalition said it intercepted a weapons shipment destined for the STC that had arrived from the UAE. The UAE rejected the allegation but subsequently announced the withdrawal of its remaining forces, and coalition airpower helped government forces regain control of Hadramawt and al‑Mahra.
Main event
To ease a recent escalation, an STC delegation—including senior officials—was scheduled to fly from Aden to Riyadh for talks. The coalition says the flight departed three hours late without Zubaidi on board and that intelligence indicated he had shifted a sizeable armed contingent from Aden camps toward al‑Dahle.
Maj‑Gen Turki al‑Malki, a coalition spokesman, described strikes carried out in co‑ordination with Yemeni government and National Shield forces as “limited pre‑emptive” actions to disrupt what the coalition termed an attempted escalation. Local hospital sources cited by news agencies reported at least four civilian deaths after more than 15 strikes in al‑Dahle.
The presidential council issued a decree removing Zubaidi from its membership and referring him for prosecution on charges that include “high treason,” harming the republic’s standing, and involvement in armed crimes against security forces. The decree also accused him of exploiting southern grievances to commit serious crimes against civilians.
The STC responded that its Riyadh delegation, led by Secretary‑General Sheikh Abdul Rahman al‑Subaihi, had gone there to engage in dialogue and that Zubaidi was continuing to perform duties from Aden while overseeing military, security and civilian institutions. The STC labelled the strikes “an unfortunate escalation” and said it had lost official contact with the Riyadh delegation, a matter it called in urgent need of clarification.
Analysis & implications
The episode highlights how fractures among anti‑Houthi forces can quickly become a national security concern for Saudi Arabia, which has sought to keep its southern border stable. Saudi intervention against an ally’s ally signals Riyadh’s resolve to prevent localized disputes from spilling into broader insecurity along its frontier.
For the STC, the confrontation presents a strategic dilemma: pressing territorial gains can consolidate control in the short term but risk alienating patrons and provoking military responses. The UAE’s decision to withdraw forces after the weapons‑shipment allegation reduces its direct leverage over the STC and complicates the separatists’ external support picture.
Domestically, the presidential council’s referral of Zubaidi for prosecution and his expulsion aim to reassert central authority and legal accountability, but they may also harden separatist resolve and fuel local grievances if perceived as politically motivated. The immediate risk is localized clashes in southern governorates, with humanitarian consequences for civilians in contested areas.
Regionally, the crisis could reshape Gulf dynamics: Riyadh’s public rebuke of the UAE over alleged pressure on separatists and the strikes on materiel reportedly from the UAE point to a rare and deep diplomatic rift between two coalition partners that have cooperated since 2015.
Comparison & data
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coalition formation | 2015: Saudi‑led Arab coalition formed after Houthi advance (multi‑state, incl. UAE) |
| December offensives | STC advances into Hadramawt and al‑Mahra (December); raised Saudi security concerns |
| Recent strikes | More than 15 strikes in al‑Dahle early Wednesday; at least 4 civilians killed |
The table frames recent escalation against a backdrop of years‑long conflict and recent December offensives. The numbers reported for strikes and casualties come from coalition statements and hospital sources cited in news reporting and may change as additional verification becomes available.
Reactions & quotes
“Intelligence indicated that Zubaidi had moved a large force…towards al‑Dhale,”
Maj‑Gen Turki al‑Malki, Saudi‑led coalition spokesman
Al‑Malki framed the strikes as pre‑emptive measures to prevent an extension of fighting into new governorates and to protect border security.
“This escalation is inconsistent with the declared climate of dialogue,”
STC foreign affairs authority statement
The STC characterised the coalition strikes as unjustified and expressed alarm over lost contact with its Riyadh delegation, stressing its commitment to political engagement.
Unconfirmed
- The precise whereabouts of Aidarous al‑Zubaidi after the missed flight remain unclear and are reported differently by the coalition and the STC.
- Attribution and full contents of the alleged shipment from the UAE to the STC have not been independently verified in open reporting.
- Casualty figures from the al‑Dahle strikes are provisional and were provided by local hospital sources; official tallies may change.
Bottom line
The removal of Zubaidi from the presidential council and his treason charges, coupled with Saudi‑led strikes on STC‑aligned forces, mark a dangerous escalation in southern Yemen that risks pitting nominal allies against one another. The incident underscores the fragility of the anti‑Houthi coalition and the potential for intra‑coalition disputes to produce violence with civilian harm.
Key near‑term watchpoints are the confirmed location and status of Zubaidi and the Riyadh delegation, any further military movements in al‑Dahle and neighboring governorates, and whether Riyadh and Abu Dhabi take diplomatic steps to de‑escalate. International observers and humanitarian organisations should monitor civilian protection needs if fighting expands.
Sources
- BBC News (international news outlet reporting, contains coalition and local sources)