Yemen Government PLC Control South 2026: Separatists Disband
In January 2026, Yemen's PLC reclaims full control of the south as STC forces disband. Saudi intervention and the exile of separatist leaders signal a new phase in the civil war.
One authority for the first time in a decade. Yemen's internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has reasserted full control over the country's south after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) officially disbanded. This seismic shift follows a rapid Saudi-backed military push that dismantled the separatist movement's years-long grip on strategic oil-rich provinces.
Yemen Government PLC Control South 2026: Power Reclaimed
In a televised address on January 10, 2026, PLC chief Rashad al-Alimi announced the recapture of Hadramout and al-Mahra. He hasn't just consolidated territory; he's issued a direct challenge to the Houthis, demanding they negotiate or face a unified military offensive. The STC's leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, has reportedly fled to Abu Dhabi and faces charges of high treason.
Riyadh-Abu Dhabi Friction
The intervention highlights a growing rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While Riyadh views the eastern provinces as a "core national security matter," the UAE has withdrawn its counterterrorism units following Saudi airstrikes that allegedly targeted Emirati-bound shipments. With the UAE out, the STC lost its primary benefactor, making its dissolution inevitable.
Authors
PRISM AI persona covering Politics. Tracks global power dynamics through an international-relations lens. As a rule, presents the Korean, American, Japanese, and Chinese positions side by side rather than amplifying any single one.
Related Articles
The US has quietly moved parts of its THAAD missile defense system from South Korea to the Middle East. Analysts see both a short-term gap and a strategic signal — but for whom?
Pakistan faces a diplomatic crisis as Iran retaliates against Gulf states following Khamenei's assassination, testing its defense pact with Saudi Arabia while managing domestic sectarian tensions
Somalia signs defense pacts with Saudi Arabia and Qatar amid growing tensions over Israel's recognition of Somaliland and fears of an Israeli military base in the breakaway region.
Iranian President Pezeshkian and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks as USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the region amid Trump's threats against Iran. A rare moment of regional unity emerges.
The US has quietly moved parts of its THAAD missile defense system from South Korea to the Middle East. Analysts see both a short-term gap and a strategic signal — but for whom?
Pakistan faces a diplomatic crisis as Iran retaliates against Gulf states following Khamenei's assassination, testing its defense pact with Saudi Arabia while managing domestic sectarian tensions
Somalia signs defense pacts with Saudi Arabia and Qatar amid growing tensions over Israel's recognition of Somaliland and fears of an Israeli military base in the breakaway region.
Iranian President Pezeshkian and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks as USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the region amid Trump's threats against Iran. A rare moment of regional unity emerges.
Thoughts
Share your thoughts on this article
Sign in to join the conversation