In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Saudi Arabian military aircraft have conducted a series of airstrikes in eastern Yemen. The reported target was fighters linked to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), marking a dramatic turn in the complex Yemen war.
Strikes Hit Al-Qatan in Hadramout
The attacks took place on Friday evening in the al-Qatan area of Yemen's Hadramout Governorate. Footage released by the AIC TV channel, which is affiliated with the STC, showed several vehicles engulfed in flames following the bombardment. The channel attributed the destruction to Saudi warplanes.
This military action comes at a politically sensitive moment. Hadramout Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi had just announced the commencement of an operation to transfer control of STC-held military camps to the forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government. The timing suggests the strikes were a direct response to this planned transfer, perceived as a consolidation of power by the UAE-aligned separatists.
A Red Line Crossed: The MBS-MBZ Dynamic
The strikes represent a tangible manifestation of the growing rift between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ). Analysts suggest MBS has drawn a red line against the STC's autonomous ambitions, which threaten Saudi influence and its vision for a unified Yemen under its preferred leadership.
By bombing STC positions, Riyadh is sending a stark message to its Gulf ally: its support for separatist elements that challenge Saudi authority in Yemen will no longer be tolerated. This move pits two former coalition partners against each other in a proxy conflict within the larger civil war.
Regional Repercussions and Future Outlook
This new front in Yemen's war has serious implications for regional stability. It complicates peace efforts and could lead to a broader fragmentation of the conflict. The direct confrontation between Saudi airpower and UAE-backed ground forces risks turning Yemen into an arena for open Gulf rivalry.
The situation remains fluid. Key questions now are whether this represents a one-off warning or the start of a sustained Saudi campaign against the STC, and how the UAE will choose to respond. The escalation underscores the shifting alliances and volatile power dynamics that continue to fuel one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
