Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has called on Yemen’s Southern factions to immediately attend a comprehensive peace dialogue in Riyadh after the Kingdom reported fresh escalations with the UAE-backed group.
Both Gulf Nations, once allied in supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthis since 2014, are now back as rival factions amid the deterioration in ties caused by the advances from anti-Houthi groups in the country.
The Abu Dhabi-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), seeking to carve out territory in southern Yemen, launched major attacks in early December 2025, rapidly advancing and seizing territories, including in the oil-rich Hadramawt province bordering Saudi Arabia.
The move quickly attracted massive backlash from the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia, who viewed it as a betrayal of the group.
The STC, on the other hand, declared the move necessary to restore order and stability in the south, but it was condemned as a "rebellion" by Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi.
Tensions soared after Saudi-led coalition forces carried out airstrikes targeting STC positions and alleged UAE military shipments.
The strikes were part of the ground offensive led by coalition forces aimed at recapturing key points in Hadramawt, killing at least 20 members of the STC.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has accused the neighbouring UAE of “pressing and pushing the STC offensive close to the country’s border, warning that any such advance towards the borders is a red line and would amount to a resolute response.”
Yemen's government cancelled its defence treaty with the UAE and ordered Emirati forces to leave the country within 24 hours.
In response, the UAE agreed to withdraw from Yemen, though it has rejected allegations of pushing STC towards the Saudi border.
The STC spokesperson, Anwar al-Tamimi, said “the group aims to carve a free and independent state in the South," adding that they haven't tried to make a fool of anyone; they stated their intentions from the day they started operations against the Houthis."
He said, “The group won’t pose any regional threat to the immediate neighbours, Saudi Arabia.”
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