The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has alleged the United Arab Emirates helped smuggle a separatist leader out of the country after he was expelled from Yemen's presidential council and accused of treason.
A coalition spokesman stated that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), fled from Aden on Tuesday night by boat to Somaliland and then was transported by cargo aircraft to Abu Dhabi, ostensibly under UAE military supervision.
There has been no immediate response from either the UAE or the STC, which claims Zubaidi was still actively working from Aden, contradicting the coalition's report that he had escaped to an undisclosed location.
The coalition also accused Zubaidi of relocating STC forces and launched air strikes in response. These strikes reportedly caused civilian casualties, raising concerns over their justification.
Major General Turki al-Malki of the coalition provided details about Zubaidi's escape route, claiming he left aboard a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged passenger ship before boarding an aircraft headed to Mogadishu and then to an undisclosed location in the Arabian Sea.
The renewed tensions highlight the intricate power dynamics within Yemen, where southern factions, supported by the UAE, have sought independence as the civil war against Iran-backed Houthi forces continues. Saudi Arabia warns that these actions pose a threat to its national security, marking an escalating conflict amongst allies in the region.
Following accusations against the UAE, which has since expressed regret but denied any wrongdoing, the situation in southern Yemen remains volatile, with shifting control among opposing factions.
