Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it remains hopeful that Yemen’s main southern separatist group will roll back a recent military escalation that has allowed it to take control of large parts of the south, further complicating a conflict that has divided the country for more than a decade.
In a foreign ministry statement, the kingdom described the actions of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) as an “unjustified escalation” after its forces seized the eastern provinces of Hadramout and Mahra earlier this month. Riyadh called for the urgent and orderly withdrawal of STC forces, saying it hoped the group would prioritise the public interest and help restore the previous security arrangement.
The STC, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, was initially part of the Sunni Muslim Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to fight the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. However, the STC later broke with the Saudi-backed government and began pushing for self-rule in southern Yemen, including the key port city of Aden, where the internationally recognised government is based.
Where
The latest developments are focused in southern Yemen, particularly in the eastern governorates of Hadramout and Mahra, which the STC seized earlier this month. These provinces are strategically important due to their size, resources and proximity to borders and shipping routes. The situation also affects Aden, the seat of the Saudi-backed government, while northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, remains firmly under the control of the Houthi movement.
Saudi Arabia is a central stakeholder as the leader of the coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government and as a mediator attempting to prevent further fragmentation of the country. The Southern Transitional Council is a powerful actor in the south, seeking autonomy or independence and expanding its territorial influence.
The United Arab Emirates, which supports the STC, plays a key role in shaping political and military dynamics in southern Yemen. Yemen’s Saudi-backed government risks losing further authority as rival forces consolidate control, while the Houthis remain a major force in the north and a critical part of the broader conflict, even though they are not directly involved in the latest escalation.
Why it matters
The STC’s seizure of Hadramout and Mahra threatens to deepen Yemen’s fragmentation at a time when the country is already split between rival administrations. Renewed infighting among anti-Houthi forces risks weakening the Saudi-backed government and undermining regional efforts to stabilise Yemen.
The escalation also complicates Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the UAE and its broader goal of reducing tensions and finding a political path out of the war. Prolonged instability in the south could disrupt ports, border regions and trade routes, while prolonging a conflict that has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
What’s Next
Saudi Arabia said joint Saudi-Emirati efforts to defuse tensions are ongoing, after a military delegation arrived in Aden on December 12 to discuss arrangements aimed at returning STC forces to their previous positions outside Hadramout and Mahra. Riyadh said the teams were working on “necessary arrangements” to restore the situation, though it acknowledged progress was still underway.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the STC withdraws its forces or consolidates its gains. Failure to resolve the standoff could further destabilise southern Yemen, complicate peace efforts with the Houthis and delay any broader settlement to end the long-running civil war.
With information from Reuters.
