Politics Yemen: Attacks in the south fuel fears of escalation
New attacks in the south of Yemen are fueling concerns of a further escalation in the civil war country.
02.01.2026, 14:59
SDA
Saudi fighter jets attacked positions of the United Arab Emirates-backed separatists of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Hadramaut province, an STC spokesman told the German Press Agency (dpa). Seven people were killed or wounded, it was reported.
Civil war with international participation
A civil war broke out in Yemen in 2014 when the Iranian-backed Houthi militia violently took over the north, including the capital Sanaa. Neighboring Saudi Arabia sees its own security threatened by the Huthi and began bombing militia targets with allies, including the United Arab Emirates, in 2015. The aim was to support the Yemeni government and push back the influence of the Houthi - and therefore Iran - in the country.
The Emirates are increasingly pursuing their own interests in the conflict and have been supporting the STC separatists for years, who are seeking to secede southern and eastern areas from the north of the country. In recent weeks, the separatists have seized large areas in the east, which also border Saudi Arabia, putting Riyadh under pressure.
On Tuesday, the actual allies clashed dangerously when a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia bombed the port of Mukalla on Tuesday and accused the Emirates of supplying weapons and vehicles to the separatists there, which Abu Dhabi rejected.
Further escalation?
The province of Hadramaut, where the new attacks are said to have taken place, borders directly on Saudi Arabia. STC spokesman Mohammed al-Nakieb wrote on Platform X that a "north-south war" had begun in Hadramaut. STC troops repelled an attack "carried out by the militias of the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda with Saudi support".
Governor speaks of "peaceful operation"
The governor of the Saudi-backed government in Hadramaut had previously stated that a "peaceful operation" was underway to recapture military positions from the separatists. According to the Yemeni news agency Saba, he spoke of a preventive measure.
