Yemen Southern Conflict Riyadh Forum 2026: A Proxy War Within a Proxy War
Saudi Arabia calls for the Yemen Southern Conflict Riyadh Forum 2026 to address the deadly rift between PLC and STC forces following the UAE's troop withdrawal.
It's a proxy war within a proxy war. While the world's been watching the fight against the Houthis, the coalition meant to stop them is tearing itself apart. On January 3, 2026, Saudi Arabia stepped in with a high-stakes diplomatic offer to stop the bleeding.
The Yemen Southern Conflict Riyadh Forum 2026 Strategy
The Saudi foreign ministry has officially welcomed a request from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) to host a forum in Riyadh. This move seeks to end the deadly factional rift that's been rocking southern Yemen. According to reports from Al Jazeera, the situation hit a breaking point on Friday when Saudi-led air strikes killed 20 people following a major offensive by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the oil-rich Hadramout province.
UAE Pulls Out as STC Pushes for Secession
In a surprising twist, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced the full withdrawal of its armed forces from Yemen late Saturday. While the UAE claims its counter-terrorism mission is complete, the timing suggests a tactical retreat to ease tensions with Riyadh. However, the STC isn't backing down. They've unilaterally declared plans for an independence referendum in two years, threatening to split Yemen into three distinct territories.
We’re going to be basically seeing a bloody conflict, at least in the coming few days, to draw a new map in the south.
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