Saudi warplanes struck positions held by UAE-backed southern separatists in Yemen on Friday, according to statements from separatist officials, as rival coalition forces clashed over control of strategic territory.
The reported strikes occurred in Hadramout province, a vast and oil-producing region bordering Saudi Arabia, where Saudi-backed units moved to retake camps seized last month by the Southern Transitional Council.
The fighting highlighted deepening strains between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, key partners in the coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Separatist leaders said Saudi-backed National Shield Forces advanced toward STC-controlled camps, prompting resistance that preceded the airstrikes.
Ahmed bin Breik, a senior STC figure and former Hadramout governor, said separatist units refused to withdraw from the positions.
An STC military spokesperson, Mohammed al-Naqeeb, said the airstrikes caused fatalities, though the claims could not be independently verified.
He accused Saudi Arabia of supporting hostile militias in what he described as a coordinated assault, drawing parallels to Yemen’s 1994 civil war.
Saudi-backed authorities rejected the accusations, with Hadramout’s governor, Salem al-Khanbashi, calling them unfounded and escalatory.
Al-Khanbashi said the operation aimed to restore order and prevent instability, insisting it was not intended as a declaration of war.
The confrontation followed the STC’s recent push into Hadramout and neighboring Mahra, moves that displaced Saudi-aligned forces and alarmed Riyadh.
Saudi officials have demanded the separatists withdraw from the areas and hand over heavy weapons as part of de-escalation efforts.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen said mediation attempts failed after STC leaders blocked a Saudi delegation from landing in Aden.
The dispute also disrupted civilian aviation, with flights halted at Aden International Airport amid conflicting claims over new inspection requirements.
The STC, backed by the UAE, reiterated its long-term goal of southern independence, calling for a referendum within two years.
The renewed fighting underscored the fragility of alliances within Yemen’s war, even as all sides remain formally opposed to the Houthi movement controlling much of the north.