Saudi ‘red line’ in Yemen: 20 dead as coalition hammers UAE-backed separatist forces
Mukalla: Saudi-led coalition airstrikes targeting separatist positions in southern Yemen killed at least 20 fighters Friday, according to military and medical officials, in a major escalation that threatens to unravel the anti-Houthi alliance.
The strikes targeted the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the oil-rich Hadramaut province, just hours after the group’s leadership announced a surprise two-year transition plan toward full independence.
Mohammed Abdulmalik, the STC head in Wadi Hadramaut, said at least seven missiles struck the Al-Khasha military camp. Additional raids hit Seiyun Airport and military installations across the desert region. A military official for the STC, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media, confirmed the death toll and warned that the group is now in an "existential war."
The bombardment marks the most direct military confrontation between Saudi-backed forces and the separatists since the STC seized control of Hadramaut and Mahra provinces last month. Saudi Arabia, which shares a long border with the region, viewed the land-grab as a threat to its national security and regional stability.
In a televised address on Friday, STC President Aidarous al-Zubaidi declared a "constitutional transition" to restore the state of South Arabia. He stated that while the group seeks a peaceful referendum by 2028, it would declare independence "immediately" if southern forces or territory are subjected to further military aggression.
Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramaut, recently appointed by the Saudi-backed government to lead local forces, characterised the offensive as a "peaceful operation" intended to reclaim military sites and neutralise weapons.
“This operation is not a declaration of war,” al-Khanbashi said. “It is a responsible pre-emptive measure to prevent chaos.”
However, the strikes have already caused significant logistical disruptions. All flights to and from Aden International Airport were grounded for more than 24 hours after Saudi authorities reportedly mandated that all southern flights undergo security inspections in Jeddah, a move the STC-aligned transport ministry denounced as a "blockade."
The violence further strains the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. While both have been key pillars of the coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2015, they have increasingly supported rival factions within the anti-Houthi camp.
Following a Tuesday strike on an alleged weapons shipment, the UAE Ministry of Defence announced it had completed the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Yemen. On Friday, an Emirati official said the country remains committed to "de-escalation and dialogue" as the only path to peace.
Yemen has been divided by civil war since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa. The current infighting in the south threatens to open a third front in the conflict, potentially allowing the Houthis to consolidate their hold on the north.
With inputs from AFP