Aden Airport Flight Suspension 2026: Cracks Deepen in Yemen's Anti-Houthi Alliance

Can a coalition survive when its members stop each other's planes? On January 2, 2026, flights at Aden International Airport ground to a halt as tensions boiled over between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government. This suspension marks a sharp escalation in a power struggle that's threatening the stability of southern Yemen.

Aden Airport Flight Suspension 2026: Smuggling Claims and Security Gridlock

The shutdown was triggered by a dispute over new security protocols. The STC-aligned Transport Ministry claimed Saudi Arabia imposed requirements for flights to undergo inspections in Jeddah, specifically targeting routes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They've expressed shock at what they call an arbitrary restriction on movement.

However, the government has a different story. Thabet al-Ahmadi, a presidential adviser, told Al Jazeera that the government itself mandated the restrictions on one specific route to prevent money smuggling by the STC. While the government says it wants traffic to continue, it's clear they aren't willing to let the STC bypass financial oversight.

The Saudi-UAE Proxy Dynamics in Southern Yemen

Beneath the logistics of airport operations lies a deeper regional rift. Riyadh has grown increasingly wary of the STC's military expansion into the Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces, which border the Kingdom. Saudi officials have accused the UAE of arming the separatists—a charge the UAE denies, even as it voluntarily withdrew its remaining forces earlier this week.