What's happened
Fighting intensifies in Yemen's Hadramawt and Mahra provinces as Saudi-backed forces retake key areas from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). Saudi airstrikes target STC camps, causing casualties, while calls for dialogue increase. The conflict deepens regional tensions and threatens peace efforts.
What's behind the headline?
The recent escalation in Yemen reflects the ongoing rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have historically supported opposing factions. The Saudi-backed forces' retaking of Hadramawt and Mahra signifies a strategic push to reassert control over key regions, especially resource-rich areas. The UAE's withdrawal of forces signals a shift towards de-escalation, but the conflict's deep-rooted political divisions suggest that peace remains elusive. The international community's call for dialogue indicates recognition that military solutions are unsustainable, yet the entrenched regional interests and the STC's push for independence complicate negotiations. The next few weeks will determine whether regional powers can broker a ceasefire or if the conflict will further fragment Yemen.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports that Saudi-backed forces have made significant advances in Hadramawt, retaking military and civilian facilities amid ongoing clashes with the UAE-backed STC. The articles highlight the deepening rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, with Saudi airstrikes causing casualties and the STC warning of a 'decisive war.' The Times of Israel notes that these are the first casualties from coalition fire since the STC's territorial gains, emphasizing the escalation's seriousness. Both sources agree that regional powers are at a crossroads, with calls for dialogue from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf states. The contrasting perspectives underscore the complexity of Yemen's conflict, with some framing it as a fight against radical Islamism, while others focus on regional rivalry and resource control.
How we got here
Yemen's civil war involves rival factions supported by regional powers. The Saudi-led coalition backs the Yemeni government, while the UAE supports the STC, which seeks independence for southern Yemen. Recent territorial advances by the STC in resource-rich areas have heightened tensions, leading to military clashes and international calls for dialogue.
Go deeper
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.
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The Southern Transitional Council is a secessionist organization in Yemen. The 26 members of the STC include the governors of five southern governorates and two government ministers.
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The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m