The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council accused Saudi Arabia of conducting airstrikes in Hadramout after STC fighters were ambushed — claims Riyadh has not confirmed. The STC says two of its fighters were killed and 12 wounded in earlier clashes; footage aired by its channel purports to show the strikes. The incident heightens tensions between Saudi- and UAE-backed forces and risks undermining the fragile coalition fighting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, while Yemen’s humanitarian crisis deepens.
Yemen Separatists Say Saudi Airstrikes Struck Their Forces in Hadramout, Escalating Saudi–UAE Tensions
This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo)
ADEN, Yemen — Southern Yemeni separatists accused Saudi Arabia on Friday of carrying out airstrikes against their fighters in eastern Hadramout governorate, allegations Riyadh did not immediately confirm after having publicly warned the separatists to withdraw from areas they recently seized.
Alleged Strikes Follow Ground Clashes
The Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, said the strikes hit positions where its fighters had been operating after coming under "multiple ambushes" by gunmen. STC foreign affairs representative Amr Al Bidh told The Associated Press the clashes killed two STC fighters and wounded 12 others; he said the airstrikes occurred after those ground attacks.
"Our fighters were operating in eastern Hadramout after facing multiple ambushes," Amr Al Bidh said. "The airstrikes came after those attacks."
Eyewitnesses reported seeing destroyed military vehicles after the strikes; the STC's satellite channel AIC aired what it said was mobile-phone footage showing explosions and aftermath footage, and in one clip a man attributes the attack to Saudi aircraft. Saudi officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the AP. On Thursday Riyadh had publicly urged Emirati-backed separatists to pull back their forces.
Wider Political and Military Context
The STC moved earlier this month into the governorates of Hadramout and Mahra, displacing elements linked to the National Shield Forces — another faction within the Saudi-aligned coalition fighting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Many STC supporters have increasingly flown the flag of the former South Yemen state (1967–1990), and pro-secession demonstrations were held in Aden this week calling for renewed independence.
The incidents risk deepening a rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two Gulf powers that, despite close ties and shared coalition membership, have vied for influence and investments across the region.
In a statement Friday, the UAE said it "welcomed the efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support security and stability" in Yemen and reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives aimed at strengthening stability and development there.
Humanitarian Toll and Regional Risks
The conflict in Yemen began in earnest after the Houthi movement took Sanaa in 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition, supported with U.S. arms and intelligence, intervened in 2015. Years of fighting have pushed the country toward famine: humanitarian groups estimate the war has killed more than 150,000 people, and millions face severe food insecurity.
The Houthis have also attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea corridor amid the Israel–Hamas war, disrupting regional shipping. Observers warn renewed clashes among anti-Houthi forces could further complicate the campaign against the rebels and potentially draw renewed international involvement; the United States conducted strikes against Houthi targets earlier this year.
Reporting: This account is based on statements from the STC, eyewitness reports and footage aired by the STC's AIC channel. AP journalists Aref Al-Aref and other contributors filed from the region.
