Saudi Arabia urged Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Thursday to withdraw forces from seized eastern provinces immediately, calling recent military actions an “unjustified escalation” threatening regional stability. The kingdom remains hopeful the STC will prioritize Yemeni public interest through urgent, orderly retreat from Hadramout and Mahra governorates.
Additionally, Saudi foreign ministry officials emphasized restoring calm requires STC compliance with prior agreements after Riyadh dispatched a joint Saudi-Emirati delegation to Aden on 12 December to negotiate redeployment plans. These teams work diligently to return STC fighters to their original positions outside the contested areas.
Complex Alliances Fracture Yemen’s Peace Prospects
The UAE-backed STC initially joined Saudi Arabia’s 2015 coalition fighting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. However, the group later turned against Yemen’s internationally recognized government, demanding southern independence. This betrayal fractured anti-Houthi unity and complicated Saudi-led stabilization efforts significantly.
Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when Houthi forces captured Sanaa, forcing the Saudi-backed administration to retreat to Aden. Today, competing authorities control different territories while civilians suffer immensely from prolonged conflict and economic collapse, with Saudi Arabia insisting that lasting peace requires all factions respecting territorial boundaries and coalition protocols.
Consequently, Riyadh continues coordinating closely with Emirati partners to defuse tensions despite current setbacks, as Saudi diplomats stress that Yemen’s sovereignty and unity remain non-negotiable pillars for any future settlement. Saudi-led initiatives persistently seek inclusive dialogue among all Yemeni stakeholders to rebuild state institutions fairly.
