SANAA, Yemen, January 3, 2026 — A Saudi-led coalition carried out airstrikes in Yemen on Friday, killing at least 20 fighters from the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). The strikes on military bases in Hadramout province mark a sharp escalation in tensions between the nominal coalition partners.
What happened in the Yemen airstrikes?
Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition hit the airport and a military base in Seiyun city in Yemen’s Hadramout province on Friday. A military official for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) stated the attacks killed at least 20 of its fighters. This is the first time coalition strikes have killed people since the STC seized control of most of Hadramout and Mahra provinces earlier in December.
Why did Saudi Arabia target the UAE-backed separatists?
The airstrikes occurred shortly after pro-Saudi forces launched a campaign to peacefully take control of military sites in Hadramout. The STC’s recent offensive in the oil-rich region had angered Riyadh. The assaults would continue unless the STC removes its soldiers from the governorates of Hadramout and Mahra, according to a Saudi military source, underscoring the growing competition between the Gulf powers inside Yemen’s complicated struggle.
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How has the UAE and STC responded?
The United Arab Emirates said it sought de-escalation after the strikes and confirmed its last forces had left Yemen, following a withdrawal announced earlier in the week. An STC military spokesperson stated the council was now in a “decisive and existential war” with Saudi-backed forces. STC foreign affairs representative Amr Al Bidh accused Riyadh of misleading the international community by announcing a peaceful operation before launching airstrikes.
What is the broader context of this conflict?
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are rival powerbrokers in Yemen’s government-held areas, though they nominally lead a coalition formed in 2015 to fight the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the north. The Yemeni military is partnered with local tribal groups sponsored by Saudi Arabia, whereas the STC is a separatist organization funded by the United Arab Emirates. Given that both Gulf countries support opposing groups, the strikes reveal divisions within the anti-Houthi coalition.
FAQs:
Q: What triggered the UAE’s withdrawal from Yemen?
A: The UAE began withdrawing its forces after Saudi Arabia bombed the port city of Mukalla on Tuesday, targeting a shipment from the UAE that Riyadh alleged carried weapons—a claim Abu Dhabi denied.
Q: Were civilian airports affected by the airstrikes?
A: Yes, the strikes hit Seiyun airport. No aircraft took off or landed at Aden airport for more than 24 hours after the raids, despite the fact that the airport was not formally closed.
Q: What did Saudi-backed local forces say about the operation?
A: Hadramout governor and local force leader Salem Al-Khanbashi said the operation aimed to peacefully and systematically hand over military sites and did not target any political or social group.
