The Saudi-led coalition says the UAE helped southern separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi leave Yemen, claiming he travelled by boat to Somaliland, then by plane to Mogadishu before the aircraft was tracked to Abu Dhabi. Witnesses and Yemeni officials reported Saudi-backed forces advancing into Aden after last month’s STC takeover, though Reuters could not independently verify the reports. The incident has intensified a rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, complicating the coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Rift Deepens: Saudi Coalition Says UAE Evacuated Separatist Leader as Forces Advance on Aden
A member of forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council stands next to a car as he mans a checkpoint in al-Buraiqah district of Aden, Yemen January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
ADEN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition accused the United Arab Emirates on Thursday of facilitating the removal of southern separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi from Yemen, saying he left by boat for Somaliland, boarded a flight to Mogadishu and that the aircraft was later tracked to a military airport in Abu Dhabi.
Allegations and Aircraft Tracking
The coalition said Zubaidi and others were under the supervision of UAE officers when they flew from Somaliland to Mogadishu, and that the same aircraft proceeded to Al Reef military airport in Abu Dhabi. The statement said the plane briefly switched off its identification transponder over the Gulf of Oman before reactivating it about 10 minutes prior to landing.
Members of forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council man a checkpoint in al-Buraiqah district of Aden, Yemen January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
Coalition Statement: The coalition named a UAE officer it said assisted the transfer and described the aircraft as similar to types often used on routes servicing conflict zones.
Developments In Aden
Witnesses and Yemeni government officials reported that Saudi-backed forces were advancing into the port city of Aden after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) had taken control last month. Reuters was unable to independently verify the situation on the ground and the Saudi coalition had not formally declared full control of the city.
Separatist Response And Possible Fractures
The STC said Zubaidi had been asked to travel to Saudi Arabia under threat. Separately, an STC delegation reported productive talks in Riyadh with the Saudi ambassador to Yemen — a sign that divisions may be emerging within the separatist movement. Any split could complicate efforts to stabilise southern Yemen and restore a coherent government coalition.
A billboard displays an image of Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), who, according to the Saudi-backed coalition, fled to an unknown destination, in Aden, Yemen January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
Regional Implications
The allegation of UAE involvement has intensified tensions between two close Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and threatens to fracture the coalition that supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The dispute highlights broader Saudi-UAE differences over geopolitics, military strategy and influence across the Middle East and Africa.
Context
Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in Yemen after the Houthi movement seized Sanaa in 2014; the UAE joined the Saudi-backed coalition in 2015. The STC was formed in 2017 with UAE backing and later joined the anti-Houthi coalition. The UAE has since scaled back its troop presence in Yemen and publicly called for de-escalation amid a severe humanitarian crisis.
Reporting by Reyam Mokhasef in Aden, Ahmed Elimam and Jana Choukeir in Dubai; additional reporting by Hatem Maher in Cairo. Writing by Michael Georgy. Edited by Clarence Fernandez and Aidan Lewis. Reuters could not independently verify all claims.
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