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Riyadh urges restraint as violence deepens between Gulf allies in Yemen
Saudi-led airstrikes on UAE-backed forces in Yemen have reignited internal rifts within the coalition fighting in the war-torn country. The strikes targeted positions held by the Southern Transitional Council in Hadhramaut province, marking a serious escalation in tensions between nominal partners on the same side of the conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for calm, urging Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to pursue diplomatic dialogue rather than military confrontation. His statement avoided assigning blame, emphasizing instead the importance of cooperation between the two Gulf allies. Despite his appeal, the clashes revealed widening divisions between Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the UAE’s backing of separatist forces seeking to restore the former state of South Yemen.
The air raids followed days of renewed fighting in the region after the Southern Transitional Council seized major areas in Hadhramaut and neighboring provinces. The group’s advance gave it control over much of Yemen’s oil reserves, including key energy facilities such as PetroMasila. Riyadh subsequently demanded the withdrawal of STC fighters, calling their moves “unjustified escalation,” but the separatist group refused to comply.
The Yemeni government meanwhile urged the Saudi-led coalition to act to protect civilians, with reports indicating thousands of coalition-aligned troops positioned near the northern border awaiting orders. While no casualties have yet been confirmed from the recent airstrikes, the situation underscores the fragility of the military alliance once united against the Houthi rebels controlling northern Yemen. With both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi now asserting rival visions for Yemen’s future, prospects for a stable political resolution appear increasingly remote.