STC leader al-Zubaidi fled Yemen to UAE via Somaliland, Saudi-led coalition says

ADEN, Yemen — The Saudi Arabia-led coalition fighting in Yemen said the head of the Southern Transitional Council, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, fled the country overnight after skipping planned peace talks in Riyadh, traveling through Somaliland before reaching the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement, the coalition said al-Zubaidi abruptly disappeared ahead of the talks and left Yemen late at night. According to the coalition, he departed from the southern port city of Aden by sea, arriving at the port of Berbera in Somaliland.

The statement said al-Zubaidi then boarded a plane accompanied by Emirati officers and flew to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, before the journey ultimately ended in Abu Dhabi. The coalition alleged that the aircraft temporarily switched off its identification systems during the flight, a move it said raised further suspicions about the trip.

If confirmed, the development could deepen tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose differences over Yemen became more visible late last year. The rift widened after the UAE-backed STC launched attacks against forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is supported by Riyadh.

The STC, which initially fought alongside the government against Houthi rebels in northern Yemen, has increasingly pushed for an independent state in southern Yemen. Its earlier takeover of Hadramout and Mahra provinces — which border Saudi Arabia — triggered serious security concerns in Riyadh, which described the move as a red line.

The Saudi-led coalition responded in late December with airstrikes on the port of Mukalla, saying it targeted a weapons shipment linked to the UAE. Abu Dhabi denied the claim, insisting the shipment did not contain arms, and reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi security. On the same day, the UAE announced the end of what it called its “counterterrorism mission” in Yemen.

Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi airpower, later regained control of Hadramout and Mahra. The STC subsequently said it would take part in Saudi-hosted peace talks. However, the coalition said al-Zubaidi was not among the STC delegation that flew to Riyadh aboard a Yemenia Airways flight.

The episode underscores the growing complexity of Yemen’s conflict and highlights the challenges facing regional and international efforts to bring rival parties back to the negotiating table.

Garowe Online