The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced it is withdrawing its remaining troops from Yemen. The UAE said the pullout will be done carefully to ensure the safety of its forces and in coordination with its partners. This decision came after Saudi Arabia carried out air strikes on Yemen’s port city of Mukalla, targeting what it said was a shipment of weapons sent by the UAE to a separatist group.
Following the bombing, tensions rose between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The UAE quickly confirmed that it would take back its forces from Yemen. The air strikes highlighted the strategic importance of Yemen’s coastline, which lies along major international trade routes. Experts said the attacks also increased concerns about regional instability in the Persian Gulf.
At the same time, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group supported by the UAE, moved to strengthen its control over southern and eastern Yemen. STC forces recently captured most areas of the Hadramout and Mahra provinces, including key oil facilities. The STC’s advances have made it a major player in southern Yemen, giving it more influence in any future negotiations about the country’s political future.
The STC, formed in 2017, wants to restore an independent South Yemen, which existed between 1967 and 1990. Its leader, Aidarous al Zubaidi, also serves as vice president of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council. The group now controls major ports, islands, and infrastructure in southern Yemen.
Yemen has been in civil war since 2014. The conflict began when Houthi forces, supported by Iran, seized the northern city of Saada and then took over the capital, Sanaa. This forced Yemen’s internationally recognized government to go into exile. In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE led a coalition to support the government and push back the Houthis.
While fighting with the Houthis has decreased since 2022, clashes between the STC and government forces have intensified. Although both groups are nominally part of the anti-Houthi coalition, they are now fighting each other over control of southern Yemen.
ALSO READ: Is low ovarian reserve normal in your 20s or 30s? Fertility expert answers
Hadramout is Yemen’s largest and oil-rich province, stretching from the Gulf of Aden to the Saudi border. Earlier, the Hadramout Tribal Alliance, backed by the government, controlled key facilities like PetroMasila, the country’s largest oil company. In late 2025, the STC took over these facilities after brief clashes, strengthening its hold over the region. STC forces also advanced into Mahra, near Oman’s border, and seized important border crossings. In Aden, the STC captured the presidential palace, the seat of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council.
Saudi Arabia responded by repositioning its troops and carrying out air strikes in Hadramout, sending a warning to the STC to stop advancing. Analysts say this has shattered the fragile balance in southern Yemen and made the situation more unpredictable.
The ongoing conflict has devastated Yemen’s economy and caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Millions of people face food insecurity, lack of medical care, and disrupted services. The fighting over resources, ports, and oil facilities continues to fuel the crisis, even as regional powers intervene for their own strategic interests.
The current tensions show how Yemen’s civil war is not just an internal issue but a regional problem involving Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and other neighbors. The STC’s rise and the Saudi-UAE disagreement over military actions add a new layer of complexity, making peace talks and stability in Yemen even harder to achieve.
In conclusion, Yemen’s conflict remains dangerous and complicated. The UAE’s withdrawal, Saudi Arabia’s bombing, and the STC’s territorial gains have changed the balance of power in the south. Experts warn that without careful negotiation and international attention, violence may continue, further harming the Yemeni population and threatening regional security.
Copyright © © 2022 Copyright. All Rights Reserved with Arth Parkash