A dramatic new chapter is unfolding in Yemen, as the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) has announced a two-year plan to create an independent “South Arabia.” This bold declaration on Friday, January 2nd, was immediately met with forceful resistance from a Saudi-led coalition, which launched airstrikes reportedly killing 20 separatist fighters.
Yemen’s history is marked by division, having been split into North and South from 1967 to 1990. Now, the STC’s ambition threatens to redraw those lines once more. The separatists have been aggressively expanding their control across the country’s resource-rich southern regions, a move that has put them at odds with their nominal allies in the Saudi-led coalition, who are technically trying to restore the internationally recognized government.
STC President Aidaros Alzubidi outlined a transitional phase, including dialogue with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels controlling the North, and a public referendum on independence. However, he also issued a stern warning: if dialogue isn’t heeded or if southern Yemen faces further attacks, full independence will be declared “immediately.” The STC is calling on the international community to mediate this crucial dialogue.
The Saudi-led coalition, angered by the STC’s land-grab, responded with a wave of attacks on STC military bases and an airport. This marks the first direct coalition-inflicted casualties since the STC’s recent offensive began, escalating an already volatile situation. While both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have historically supported factions against the Houthis, the STC’s unilateral actions have driven a wedge between the Gulf powers. Saudi sources have stated that these strikes will continue until the STC withdraws, signaling a deepening conflict. The future of Yemen, once again, hangs in the balance.
