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Yemen Backs Saudi Push to Defuse Tensions with Southern Separatists

Yemen's internationally recognized government has endorsed Saudi Arabia's call to ease escalating tensions with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the country's south. The Saudi foreign ministry condemned recent STC troop deployments as an "unjustified escalation" that complicates coalition efforts, prompting a joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation to coordinate a withdrawal. Tensions flared after the STC seized control of Hadramout and expanded into Al-Mahrah, while also gaining political allegiance from several government ministers. This internal rift threatens the fragile anti-Houthi alliance as Yemen's civil war continues, with the STC persistently pushing for southern separation.

Key Points: Yemen Govt Backs Saudi Call to Ease Southern Tensions

  • Govt backs Saudi de-escalation call
  • STC military moves called "unjustified escalation"
  • Saudi-UAE delegation in Aden for coordination
  • STC expands control in southern provinces
  • Tensions strain anti-Houthi coalition
3 min read

Yemeni govt backs Saudi push to defuse tensions in southern provinces

Yemen's government supports Saudi Arabia's call to de-escalate as Southern Transitional Council military moves strain the anti-Houthi alliance. Read the latest.

"unacceptable source of tension - Yemeni Government Statement"

Aden, Dec 25

Yemen's internationally-recognised government on Thursday backed Saudi Arabia's call to ease tensions in the country's southern regions, as military movements by the Southern Transitional Council continue to strain the anti-Houthi alliance.

In a statement carried by the state-run Saba news agency, the Yemeni government welcomed what it described as Saudi Arabia's clear, balanced and responsible stance toward the latest developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahrah provinces.

The government warned that any security or military actions taken outside state authority and without coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the government, or local authorities represent an "unacceptable source of tension" and impose additional burdens on the war-ravaged country.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said earlier Thursday that recent STC troop deployments in the two southern Yemeni provinces constituted an "unjustified escalation" that undermines Yemeni interests and complicates Saudi Arabia-led coalition efforts.

Riyadh announced that a joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation had arrived in Aden to coordinate with the STC on withdrawing its forces from the areas in an orderly and timely manner and transferring military camps to government-affiliated or local forces.

Tensions escalated on December 3 when STC forces took control of Hadramout after clashes with pro-government units, accusing them of maintaining ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The STC also criticised the PLC for failing to launch a serious campaign against the Houthi group.

STC forces then expanded into Al-Mahrah without reported resistance, and have since recruited local forces in both provinces despite repeated de-escalation calls from the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia, Xinhua news agency reported.

Later, STC forces launched a new large-scale military operation in the southern province of Abyan.

Earlier this week, the STC gained allegiance from more than a dozen ministers within the central government. Meanwhile, eight southern provinces under STC control endorsed growing calls for the STC's separation.

Amid the STC's expanding military presence in several strategic provinces, Saudi Arabia has suspended the issuance of permits for ships to enter the STC-controlled port of Aden.

Yemen has been mired in conflict since 2014, when Houthi forces captured Sanaa and large swathes of the north, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally-recognised government.

Formed in 2017, the STC seeks self-determination and eventual independence for southern Yemen. Despite joining the Saudi-led coalition and integrating into the PLC in 2022, the group continues to push for southern sovereignty, leading to recurring disputes over power-sharing and control of resources.

The STC has accused previous Yemeni governments of marginalising the south politically and economically, which Yemeni authorities have rejected as they continuously stress the importance of territorial unity.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting to see Saudi Arabia and the UAE working together on this delegation. The STC seems to be overplaying its hand with these military moves. Stability in Yemen is crucial for regional security and shipping lanes that affect global trade, including India's.
A
Arjun K
The report mentions the STC accusing others of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. This shows how internal factions often use such labels to discredit rivals, complicating peace. Hope the Saudi-led mediation works. Yemen has suffered too much.
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Priya S
As an Indian, my heart goes out to the civilians caught in this. When will the fighting stop? The STC gaining allegiance from ministers is a serious political shift. Saudi suspending permits for Aden port is a big economic pressure move. Hope it leads to talks, not more hardship.
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Vikram M
While Saudi's role is important, one has to respectfully ask if their 2015 intervention truly helped the situation or prolonged the war? Sometimes external military solutions create more problems. The focus now should be 100% on an inclusive Yemeni-led political process.
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Kavya N
The STC's demand for self-determination sounds familiar from history. But in a country already broken by war, further fragmentation might not be the answer. Unity with fair power-sharing is the difficult but necessary path. Jai Hind.

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