The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a UAE-backed separatist group in Yemen, has announced its dissolution following meetings in Saudi Arabia. Representatives of the STC were in Riyadh for discussions aimed at resolving unrest in southern Yemen, according to Al Jazeera. The group declared that all its main and subsidiary bodies would be disbanded and its offices inside and outside the country closed.

The Saudi-led coalition claimed that STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi fled to the United Arab Emirates instead of attending scheduled peace talks in Riyadh. The coalition stated that al-Zubaidi traveled by boat from Yemen’s Aden port to Berbera in Somaliland late Wednesday night. The STC praised Saudi Arabia for organizing the talks, saying the initiative could help ease tensions with the UAE.

Recent weeks have seen escalating violence between STC forces and Saudi-backed troops around Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Tensions intensified after a Saudi-led airstrike targeted a UAE arms shipment at Mukalla port in southern Yemen.

Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi has fled to the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Saudi-led coalition. The coalition said al-Zubaidi left Yemen after attempting to seize control of several areas and advance toward independence. Based on what it described as reliable intelligence, the coalition reported that al-Zubaidi and his associates escaped during the night.

The coalition further stated that the group traveled from Aden to Abu Dhabi using both boats and aircraft. The information was reported from Riyadh by the AFP news agency. The announcement marks a significant development in Yemen’s ongoing internal divisions, as al-Zubaidi has been a key figure in the country’s separatist movement.

The coalition’s statement did not specify al-Zubaidi’s current status in the UAE or any immediate response from Emirati authorities.

The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition carried out what it described as limited preemptive strikes in Yemen to prevent further escalation of conflict involving UAE-backed separatists. The coalition announced the operation in a statement on Wednesday, saying it acted after recent territorial advances by separatist forces in Hadhramaut province near the Saudi border. Those forces had previously expelled Saudi-backed government troops but were forced to retreat following coalition air and ground operations last week.

According to the coalition, the new strikes were launched as fighting under separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi risked spreading into Al-Dhale governorate. The statement said the coalition was coordinating with the Yemeni government and local authorities to strengthen security and maintain order. Al-Zubaidi was expected to attend talks in Riyadh on Tuesday but reportedly missed his flight, and the coalition claimed he has since fled to an unknown location, creating uncertainty within the separatist ranks.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have long supported rival factions within Yemen’s southern-based government while jointly fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who seized much of northern Yemen in 2014.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has called on rival factions to engage in dialogue to resolve ongoing conflicts. According to the state-run Saba News Agency, the call was issued on Saturday by Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), who invited all southern Yemeni parties to attend talks in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia welcomed the initiative and also urged all southern factions to participate in the upcoming dialogue. However, the Iran-backed Houthi fighters controlling the capital, Sanaa, were excluded from the invitation.

The appeal followed recent clashes in Yemen’s Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra provinces, where the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized significant territory, prompting Saudi airstrikes. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the dialogue aims to establish a comprehensive framework for a fair resolution of southern disputes. Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have long supported Yemen’s recognized government in its fight against the Houthis, while the STC, once an ally, has recently renewed its push for southern independence.

The STC has announced plans to establish a separate “South Arabia” state within two years, adding urgency to the proposed Riyadh talks.

The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist armed political group in Yemen, has announced plans to hold a referendum within two years to decide on the independence of South Yemen from the north. STC President Aidarous al-Zubaidi made the announcement in a televised speech on Friday, declaring the start of a two-year transitional period and urging the international community to sponsor dialogue between the northern and southern parties. He warned that if no dialogue occurs or if the south faces renewed attacks, the STC would immediately declare independence.

The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Saudi-backed forces and the UAE-supported STC. Fighting broke out in Hadramaut province, near the Saudi border, between forces loyal to the Saudi-backed governor and STC fighters. STC commander Mohammed Abdul Malik reported that seven people were killed and more than 20 injured in seven airstrikes on an STC camp in Al-Khasha, carried out by Saudi Arabia.

The conflict follows years of instability since the Houthi takeover of Yemen’s capital in 2014, with the country divided between Houthi-controlled north and the Saudi-recognized Presidential Council in the south.

At least seven people were killed and more than twenty injured in Saudi-led airstrikes targeting fighters and infrastructure of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southeastern Yemen, according to the group. The attacks took place in Wadi Hadramaut and the Hadramaut desert, where STC leader Mohammad Abdul Malik said seven air raids struck a camp in Al-Khasar.

Middle East Eye reported that Saudi-backed forces launched the operation to retake areas seized by the STC in December. Hadramaut Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi, supported by Saudi Arabia, had earlier announced a rapid 'peaceful operation' to reclaim military positions captured a month earlier. However, STC officials accused Riyadh of deception, saying the so-called peaceful mission quickly turned into airstrikes.

STC’s foreign affairs representative Amr Al-Bidh alleged that Saudi Arabia deliberately misled the international community by labeling the offensive as peaceful. The internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council had granted Khanbashi full military and administrative authority to restore control in Hadramaut. Saudi Arabia has not commented on the airstrikes.

Flights at Yemen’s Aden International Airport have been suspended, according to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Thursday. Passengers gathered at the terminal seeking information as operations came to a halt. The suspension followed escalating tensions between the UAE-backed STC and the Saudi Arabia-backed internationally recognized Yemeni government.

Channel AIC reported that Saudi Arabia halted both domestic and international flights at Aden airport, effectively suspending all operations. The airport primarily handled flights to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, operating under STC authority as part of a power-sharing arrangement with the Yemeni government, condemned the Saudi decision.

The ministry stated it had received a memorandum from the Saudi-led coalition instructing that all international flights must first stop in Jeddah for inspection before proceeding to their destinations. It expressed dismay over the move, though Saudi authorities later clarified that the restriction applied only to flights between Aden and the United Arab Emirates.

Yemen has declared a state of emergency after a separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took control of large parts of the country. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, who also declared the cancellation of the country’s security and defense agreement with the UAE.

According to an official statement, the joint defense pact with the UAE has been formally revoked. The information was confirmed by AFP from Riyadh. In a separate decree, a 90-day state of emergency was imposed, with the first 72 hours including a blockade of air, land, and sea routes as part of emergency measures.

The decisions mark a significant shift in Yemen’s security and diplomatic stance following the territorial advances of UAE-backed separatists, signaling heightened internal instability and strained regional relations.

The United Arab Emirates has announced the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Yemen, citing recent Saudi-led coalition airstrikes and escalating tensions in the country’s southern region. The decision follows a demand from Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which gave the UAE 24 hours to remove its forces. The UAE Defense Ministry said the move was made voluntarily, considering the impact of current conditions on the safety and effectiveness of its counterterrorism mission, and that coordination with partners would ensure troop security during the process.

Earlier, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi canceled the joint defense agreement with the UAE, imposed a 90-day state of emergency, and restricted all border crossings for 72 hours. The developments came after coalition airstrikes targeted two UAE-linked ships at Mukalla port, which reportedly entered without authorization. Yemen’s government accused the vessels of transporting weapons to the Southern Transitional Council, further complicating the security situation.

The UAE’s withdrawal marks a significant shift in the coalition’s dynamics and could affect ongoing operations in southern Yemen.

Yemen’s Houthi movement has issued a strong warning to Israel following its recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. On December 26, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, a self-declared republic that separated from Somalia in 1991. The move drew sharp condemnation from Somalia and several Muslim-majority nations, as well as statements from the European Union, African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League.

Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi declared that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be treated as a military target, describing it as aggression against Somalia and Yemen and a threat to regional security. He warned that the consequences of Israel’s decision would be serious, calling it a hostile act toward Somalia, Yemen, and countries along both shores of the Red Sea.

Somaliland, strategically located along the Gulf of Aden, has long sought international recognition and maintains its own currency, passport, and armed forces.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has requested military assistance from the Saudi-led coalition to protect civilians and restore peace in the country. The request was made following an emergency meeting of the National Defense Council. According to Al Arabiya, Rashad al-Alimi, president of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), made the appeal on Friday, stating that such support is necessary to safeguard ordinary citizens and stabilize the nation.

Since 2015, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have controlled the capital Sanaa and roughly half of Yemen, while the PLC governed the remaining areas recognized internationally as Yemen’s legitimate government. However, in early December, the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of most of these territories. Saudi Arabia urged the STC to withdraw, but the group instead strengthened its positions.

Tensions escalated after Saudi forces launched airstrikes in Hadramaut, Yemen’s largest southern province, which along with Al-Mahra province, remains under STC control. Saudi Arabia warned that continued STC dominance could deepen divisions and allow Houthi forces to exploit the situation. The Yemeni president has called on the STC to relinquish control of both provinces.

A Houthi-run court in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, has sentenced 17 people to death for allegedly spying for Israel, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. According to Houthi-controlled media reports cited by The Times of Israel, the Specialized Criminal Court found the defendants guilty of participating in a spy network linked to foreign intelligence agencies. The court ordered execution by firing squad. Additionally, one man and one woman received 10-year prison terms, while another defendant was acquitted. Defense lawyer Abdul Basit Ghazi said the verdicts could be appealed. The charges included communicating with enemy states between 2024 and 2025, gathering intelligence under the direction of foreign agencies such as Mossad, inciting citizens, and aiding hostile forces, which allegedly led to deadly attacks and infrastructure damage. The crackdown on alleged espionage intensified following the reported killing of Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Galeb Nasser al-Rahabi in an Israeli strike.

Abdul-Malik Badruddin al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, has accused the United States, Israel, and their allies of killing nearly three million innocent Muslims in various Islamic countries over the past twenty years. Speaking at Yemen’s Martyrs’ Remembrance Week ceremony on Tuesday, al-Houthi said these deaths reflect the oppressive policies of Western powers aiming to subjugate Muslim nations. He claimed that America itself has admitted responsibility for mass killings, most of the victims being from the Islamic Ummah. The Houthi leader condemned Israel’s ongoing siege and starvation tactics in Gaza, emphasizing that such actions have failed to break Muslim resistance. He asserted that martyrdom is a symbol of strength and protection from humiliation. Al-Houthi also criticized Western efforts to mentally manipulate and enslave Muslim societies through colonization, violence, and psychological warfare.

A missile attack struck an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, igniting a massive fire aboard the vessel, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center. The incident occurred about 210 kilometers east of Aden while the ship, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, was en route from Sohar, Oman, to Djibouti. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the crew issued a distress call from about 60 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Ahwar coast, with rescue operations currently underway. Although the Houthi rebels have not claimed responsibility, the attack follows a series of similar strikes on Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea. Ambrey noted that the targeted tanker was not among the vessels usually attacked by the Houthis. Investigations into the cause and source of the missile are ongoing.

Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem has criticized the U.S.-proposed Gaza ceasefire plan, calling it “dangerous” and an Israeli political maneuver disguised as peace. Speaking at a memorial event in Lebanon on October 4, Qassem alleged that Israel aims to achieve through diplomacy what it failed to secure through military aggression, genocide, and blockade. He said the plan represents Israel’s broader “Greater Israel” project, which he claimed includes not only Gaza and the West Bank but also parts of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Qassem urged people across the region to resist this plan, warning it would eventually affect everyone. He emphasized that the final decision on the U.S. proposal rests with Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups, asserting their right to determine the appropriate response. Qassem’s remarks come amid growing tensions over international efforts to end the Gaza conflict and shape post-war governance.