ISLAMABAD: In a startling development that has sent shockwaves through theGulf region, Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates oforchestrating the covert extraction of Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader ofYemen’s Southern Transitional Council, from Yemen. Zubaidi, facing hightreason charges from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, reportedly fled toSomaliland en route to Abu Dhabi, intensifying long-simmering tensionsbetween the two former allies and raising fears of renewed escalation inYemen’s protracted conflict.
The accusation came on January 8, 2026, following Zubaidi’s failure toattend scheduled peace talks in Riyadh. Saudi-led coalition sources claimedthat UAE operatives facilitated his escape, smuggling him out despite atravel ban imposed after his expulsion from the Presidential LeadershipCouncil. This move has been described by analysts as a direct challenge toSaudi influence in southern Yemen, where the UAE has historically backedseparatist forces seeking independence from the north.
Zubaidi’s Southern Transitional Council controls significant portions ofsouthern Yemen, including the port city of Aden. The council, formed in2017 with UAE support, has clashed repeatedly with Saudi-backed governmentforces. Recent offensives in eastern provinces like Hadramawt and al-Mahra,perceived by Riyadh as threats to its border security, prompted Saudiairstrikes and demands for UAE withdrawal from Yemen late last year.
The rift traces back to diverging strategic interests in the Yemen war,launched in 2015 against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. While Saudi Arabiaprioritises a unified Yemen under the internationally recognisedgovernment, the UAE has invested heavily in training and arming southernseparatists, viewing an independent south as a bulwark against Houthiexpansion and a gateway to strategic Indian Ocean ports.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project indicates over150,000 deaths in Yemen since 2015, with millions displaced. The UnitedNations reports that southern separatist advances in 2025 displaced anadditional 50,000 civilians in Hadramawt alone. Saudi airstrikes inDecember 2025 targeted alleged UAE arms shipments, marking the first directconfrontation between the coalition partners.
Observers note that this public accusation reverses previous dynamics,where both nations jointly accused Iran of destabilising the region throughproxies. Now, Saudi statements mirror those criticisms against the UAE forsupporting non-state actors. The escape of Zubaidi has clouded prospectsfor UN-brokered talks aimed at ending the war, which has seen a fragiletruce since 2022.
Regional implications extend beyond Yemen. The Saudi-UAE split affectsalignments in Sudan, Somalia, and even OPEC policies. Analysts from theMiddle East Institute warn that unchecked rivalry could redraw Gulfalliances, potentially benefiting Iran and complicating US efforts tostabilise the Red Sea shipping lanes amid Houthi attacks.
In response, UAE officials have remained silent on the smugglingallegations, but earlier statements expressed disappointment over Saudiactions. The withdrawal of remaining UAE forces from Yemen in December 2025was seen as a de-escalatory step, yet Zubaidi’s alleged safe passage to AbuDhabi suggests continued covert support for the STC.
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As clashes subside in southern Yemen following Saudi advances, the focusshifts to diplomatic fallout. International mediators, including the UNspecial envoy, have called for restraint. However, with Zubaidi reportedlyin exile and treason proceedings underway, reconciliation between Riyadhand Abu Dhabi appears distant.
The episode underscores Yemen’s role as a proxy battleground for Gulfpowers. With over 21 million Yemenis still needing humanitarian aidaccording to UN figures, any prolongation of internal divisions risksfurther humanitarian catastrophe and regional instability.
Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/8/saudi-led-coalition-says-stcs-al-zubaidi-fled-to-uae-via-somaliland
Tags: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Southern TransitionalCouncil, Aidarous al-Zubaidi
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