Sunday, December 28, 2025 | Dubai, UAE [ Posted at 7:56 pm ]
The Saudi UAE Yemen conflict has entered a dangerous new phase after Saudi Arabia reportedly launched an airstrike against the UAE-backed separatist force in Yemen. Hence, it exposes a deep fracture within the once-unified anti-Houthi coalition.
Where did the Saudi UAE Yemen strike happen?
The strike targeted positions of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen’s oil-rich Hadhramaut province. It is a region bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman. However, the escalations come days after Riyadh warned it would intervene militarily unless the separatists withdrew from the area.
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UAE & Saudi Arabia Strike Yemen: What Triggered the Clash?
It is important to note that the STC is politically and militarily backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recently, it expanded into Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. Hence, it pushed out forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials have warned that any military movement undermining de-escalation would be met with direct and immediate action. Shortly after, the STC sources accused Saudi jets of conducting airstrikes in the Wadi Nahb area by describing them as a surprising aerial bombardment.
Saudi Arabia has not officially confirmed the attacks. Still, experts believe the strikes were intended as a strategic warning. It was not a full-scale assault.
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Why Is Yemen at War With Saudi Arabia?
It is important to revisit the roots of conflict to understand the reason behind the Saudi UAE Yemen War. So, the civil war of Yemen started in 2014 when the Iran-aligned Houthis movement seized the capital, Sanaa. Saudi Arabia led a military coalition to restore the internationally recognised Yemeni government and secure its southern border in 2015.
The large-scale war eased after broked truce in 2022. Still, Yemen remains divided, unstable, and vulnerable to renewed conflict in the region.
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Why Is UAE at War With Saudi Arabia in Yemen?
Saudi Arabia insists on the territorial unity of Yemen. In contrast, the UAE has backed STC, as it seeks autonomy or independence for southern Yemen. However, it aims to revive the border of the former South Yemen state that existed before 1990.
This divergence explains why the UAE and Saudi Arabia are now on opposite sides in Yemen after being long-time friends. Moreover, control over Hadhramaut and al-Mahra is especially sensitive, as these provinces contain Yemen’s largest oil fields and offer strategic depth along Saudi Arabia’s border.
Observers note that Abu Dhabi publicly supports Saudi stabilisation efforts. Still, the battlefield strength of the STC would be impossible without Emirati funding, training, and weapons.
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Saudi UAE Yemen War: Regional Risks Grow
The Houthis control northern Yemen, including Sanaa. They have remained conspicuously silent as they are benefiting from infighting among their rivals. Experts warn that the Saudi-UAE power struggle in Yemen risks undoing fragile peace efforts and could ignite a destructive south-on-south conflict.
International concern is also rising due to the conflict. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged restraint. He warned that renewed violence would destabilise Yemen and the wider Middle East. Moreover, the United Nations has also echoed those concerns. They stress that further escalation could be catastrophic.
What will happen next?
Currently, Yemen is dealing with a three-way struggle. Below are the details about those struggles:
- Houthis in the north
- Saudi-backed government forces
- UAE-backed southern separatists
The possibilities of the prolonged proxy conflict are growing as Saudi Arabia and the UAE strike Yemen from opposing sides. Hence, it has raised fears that the Saudi UAE Yemen War could spiral into a new and more dangerous phase.
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