IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

20 Jan 2026 : Fractured Yemen

 Editorial 1: ​Fractured Yemen

Context

Saudi Arabia and the UAE should actively facilitate unity among all Yemeni factions by bringing them together for dialogue and cooperation.

 

Introduction

The renewed violence in Yemen, involving the Saudi-backed government and the UAE-supported STC, has laid bare the country’s political fragmentation and the geopolitical rivalry within the Gulf. These clashes reflect unresolved power struggles, weakening state institutions and worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis, while external interventions continue to shape Yemen’s fragile and contested political landscape.

 

Background to the Crisis

  • Renewed clashes in Yemen between the Saudi-backed government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), supported by the UAE, have highlighted Yemen’s internal fragility and wider Gulf rivalries.
  • The confrontation revealed deep geopolitical fault lines within the region.

 

Escalation of Fighting

  • In early December, the STC launched a surprise offensive in the oil-rich Hadhramaut and al-Mahragovernorates, areas previously under government control.
  • The STC briefly captured nearly half of former South Yemen, though these gains were short-lived.
  • Government forces, backed by Saudi air power, rapidly reclaimed the lost territory.

 

Developments in Aden

  • On January 7, government troops entered Aden, compelling the STC to send a delegation to Riyadh for negotiations.
  • In Riyadh, the STC announced its dissolution, while its leader Aidarous al-Zoubaidi, charged with treason, reportedly fled to the UAE.

 

Saudi–UAE Tensions

  • The crisis exposed strain between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
  • Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of arming Yemeni separatists and conducted air strikes on Mukalla port, allegedly targeting weapons shipments.
  • After a rare public rebuke from Saudi Arabia, the UAE declared a withdrawal of its forces from Yemen and an end to its counterterrorism operations.

 

Shifting Alliances in the War

  • The UAE initially joined Saudi Arabia’s coalition against the Houthis (Ansar Allah), who seized Sanaa in 2014.
  • Despite years of conflict, the Houthis remained militarily resilient.
  • As the STC challenged the government in the south, the UAE increasingly backed the separatists.
  • Saudi Arabia, facing direct security threats along its southern border, pursued a ceasefire with the Houthis while trying to stabilise the south through the government.

 

Consequences on the Ground

  • Fighting between the government and the STC weakened southern Yemen, allowing the Houthis to consolidate control in the north, including major population centres.
  • Yemeni civilians have suffered the most, as the country endures one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, marked by famine risks, economic collapse, and destroyed infrastructure.

 

Current Situation and Way Forward

  • An uneasy calm now prevails in southern Yemen, though STC representatives in the UAE deny that the council has truly disbanded.
  • Sustainable peace requires all Yemeni factions to jointly create a federal governance framework that reflects current power realities and addresses historical grievances.
  • For this to be possible, Saudi Arabia and the UAE must set aside differences and cooperate to ensure long-term stability in Yemen.

 

Conclusion

Lasting peace in Yemen depends on an inclusive political process that accommodates all Yemeni factions through a viable federal structure. To achieve this, Saudi Arabia and the UAE must reconcile differences, align strategies, and prioritise stability over rivalry. Coordinated efforts can reduce conflict, enable humanitarian recovery, and support Yemen’s transition toward sustainable governance and regional security.