Yemen Southern Transitional Council Conflict 2026: Allies Turn into Enemies
The Yemen Southern Transitional Council conflict 2026 intensifies as Saudi Arabia charges the STC leader with treason and launches airstrikes in southern Yemen.
They shook hands, but now they hold guns. The Saudi-backed presidential council in Yemen has expelled the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and charged him with high treason. This sudden escalation marks a dangerous turning point in the decade-long civil war, pitting former allies against each other.
Yemen Southern Transitional Council Conflict 2026: Treason and Strikes
On January 7, 2026, the Saudi-led coalition launched more than 15 airstrikes on STC-aligned forces in al-Dahle province. The strikes followed claims that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the head of the UAE-backed STC, had fled Aden to avoid peace talks in Riyadh while mobilizing a large combat force.
Coalition forces launched limited pre-emptive strikes to disrupt these forces and thwart Zubaidi's attempts to escalate the conflict and extend it into al-Dhale.
A Deepening Rift Between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi
The conflict reveals a widening gap between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While both initially joined forces to fight the Houthi movement, their visions for Yemen's future have diverged. The STC, supported by the UAE, seeks an independent southern state, a move that Riyadh views as a threat to regional stability and its own border security.
According to AFP, hospital sources confirmed at least four civilian deaths following the latest strikes. The UAE has denied Saudi accusations of smuggling weapons to the STC but agreed to withdraw its remaining forces from the country to defuse tensions.
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