Separatist Leader- Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of Yemen’s UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), fled to an unknown location ahead of planned peace negotiations.
Maj General Turki al-Malki, Saudi coalition spokesperson, said al-Zubaidi was expected to travel to Riyadh for talks on southern Yemen’s future. Other STC officials reportedly boarded the flight.
Al-Malki added that intelligence indicated al-Zubaidi moved a significant force, including armored vehicles, heavy weapons, and ammunition, before fleeing. His exact whereabouts remain unknown, Saudi officials said.
The STC, which has historically been part of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, offered no immediate response to the coalition’s claims or al-Zubaidi’s disappearance.
Saudi Arabia said it conducted “limited pre-emptive strikes” in Yemen, aiming to prevent the STC from expanding conflict in southern provinces, including al-Zubaidi’s home region.
Local sources reported more than 15 air strikes targeting strategic locations in the province, escalating tensions between the UAE-backed separatists and the Saudi-led coalition.
In response, Yemen’s Saudi-backed presidential council stripped al-Zubaidi of his membership and referred him to the public prosecutor on charges including high treason, SABA reported.
Council chair Rashad al-Alimi accused al-Zubaidi of inciting armed rebellion, attacking constitutional authorities, and committing abuses against civilians, framing his actions as a threat to state stability.
The STC’s growing tensions with Saudi Arabia reflect the broader UAE-Saudi rift, which has undermined the coalition originally formed to fight Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.
The Houthis, who seized Sana’a in 2014, remain a dominant military force in northern Yemen, while southern territories continue to experience fragmentation and violent power struggles.
Analysts say al-Zubaidi’s disappearance may signal internal fractures within the STC, potentially weakening UAE influence in southern Yemen and complicating ongoing peace negotiations.
Humanitarian groups warn that continued air strikes and conflict could worsen the dire situation in southern Yemen, where civilians already face food insecurity and limited access to healthcare.
International observers emphasize the urgency of diplomatic engagement, urging Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the STC to resume dialogue and prevent further destabilization of the region.
The UN and other multilateral organizations have repeatedly called for de-escalation, noting that stalled talks and military action risk prolonging Yemen’s civil war.
Observers also warn that political rivalries within the coalition may embolden the Houthis, who could exploit divisions to expand their territorial control and influence in Yemen.
Experts highlight that al-Zubaidi’s flight underscores fragile trust between coalition partners, emphasizing the difficulty of reconciling Saudi and UAE interests in southern Yemen’s political future.
For Yemen’s civilians, the political deadlock and sporadic strikes continue to fuel uncertainty, with displacement and economic hardships threatening stability in affected provinces.
Some regional analysts suggest that renewed international mediation, possibly led by the UN or Gulf intermediaries, may be necessary to prevent further escalation and civilian casualties.
As tensions rise, monitoring al-Zubaidi’s movements and the STC’s response will be crucial for predicting the trajectory of Yemen’s southern political landscape.
Without a resolution, Yemen risks another cycle of conflict, further fragmentation, and disruption to ongoing humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in war-affected regions.
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Regional diplomats warn that unresolved tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over southern Yemen could further delay peace efforts and deepen rival power centers nationwide.
Security analysts say continued fragmentation among anti-Houthi factions risks prolonging instability, complicating ceasefire enforcement, humanitarian access, and prospects for a unified Yemeni state.
Observers note that Saudi air strikes may signal a firmer stance against separatist defiance, underscoring Riyadh’s intent to maintain leverage over Yemen’s southern political trajectory.
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding al-Zubaidi’s location continues to fuel speculation, with analysts warning that miscalculation could trigger wider confrontations among rival armed groups.
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