What's happened
Recent tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen have escalated, with accusations of secret prisons, military support, and regional destabilization. Saudi officials claim the UAE has withdrawn from Yemen, but allegations of covert operations persist amid ongoing Gulf rivalry.
What's behind the headline?
The Gulf rivalry over Yemen is a microcosm of broader regional tensions. Saudi Arabia's public accusations against the UAE suggest a shift from covert to overt conflict, risking regional stability. The UAE's denial of secret prisons and military support indicates a strategic effort to maintain plausible deniability, but evidence of covert operations persists. This escalation could lead to increased instability in Yemen, complicating peace efforts. The rivalry also reflects competing visions for regional influence, with Saudi Arabia seeking to assert dominance and the UAE pursuing its own strategic interests. The recent accusations and counterclaims are likely to deepen divisions, making diplomatic resolution more difficult. The next phase will depend on whether regional powers prioritize stability or continue their power struggle, with potential consequences for Yemen's fragile peace process.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports that the Gulf rivalry has intensified, with accusations of secret prisons and destabilization efforts by the UAE, which denies the allegations. Saudi officials have publicly claimed the UAE has withdrawn from Yemen but continue to accuse it of covert operations. Reuters highlights the specific allegations of secret prisons near Mukalla, with the Yemeni government demanding accountability. The articles reveal a complex power struggle, with both sides trading accusations amid broader regional tensions, including conflicts in Sudan, Libya, and Gaza. The coverage underscores the deepening Gulf divide and the risks it poses to Yemen's stability, with some sources emphasizing the strategic interests behind the accusations, while others focus on the humanitarian implications.
How we got here
The Gulf rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has historically influenced Yemen's conflict, with both backing different factions. Recent years saw the UAE backing separatists and Saudi Arabia supporting the Yemeni government. Tensions escalated after the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council seized territory, prompting Saudi accusations of covert operations and military support. The dispute is part of a wider regional power struggle, with both countries vying for influence in Yemen and beyond.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
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.
-
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
-
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
-
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.