What's happened
Fighting intensifies in Yemen's Hadramawt and Mahra provinces as the Southern Transitional Council (STC) faces coalition airstrikes. The STC claims to be in a decisive war with Saudi-backed forces, with recent strikes killing seven and injuring over 20. Tensions grow between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over territorial control and diplomatic moves.
What's behind the headline?
The recent escalation reveals deepening regional rivalries between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both backing different factions in Yemen. The coalition's airstrikes, claimed by Saudi sources, aim to force the STC to withdraw, but they risk further destabilizing the region. The STC's push for independence or autonomy threatens the fragile Yemeni government and complicates peace negotiations with the Houthis. The UAE's withdrawal signals a possible shift in regional priorities, but the ongoing conflict suggests that Yemen remains a battleground for Gulf power struggles. The international community's response will likely influence whether de-escalation is achievable or if the conflict will intensify, prolonging Yemen's civil war and regional instability.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports that the recent strikes mark the first coalition fire deaths since the STC seized territories last month, highlighting the escalation's significance. The New Arab emphasizes the regional tensions, noting the UAE's official withdrawal and the Saudi-led coalition's ongoing military pressure. Both sources detail the complex dynamics, with The Times of Israel focusing on the military and diplomatic fallout, while The New Arab underscores the regional rivalry and the potential for further conflict escalation. The articles collectively illustrate how Yemen's conflict is a proxy battleground for Gulf powers, with recent events likely to influence regional stability and peace prospects.
How we got here
Last month, the STC seized key territories in Yemen's resource-rich Hadramawt and Mahra provinces, prompting a military response. The conflict is rooted in Yemen's complex civil war, with regional powers supporting rival factions. The UAE has announced troop withdrawals, while Saudi Arabia continues to pressure the STC to retreat from the recently captured areas. The situation reflects ongoing regional rivalry and the fragile state of Yemen's peace process.
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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.