A joint military delegation from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has arrived in Aden, Yemen, to engage in discussions aimed at alleviating rising tensions in the southern region of the country. This visit comes shortly after the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a key separatist group, declared wide-reaching control over southern Yemen, as confirmed by a government source to Reuters.
The STC has asserted its dominance in the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Mahra, claiming a presence across all eastern provinces, including Aden, which serves as the headquarters for the Saudi-backed and internationally recognized government.
The talks in Aden will focus on addressing recent unilateral actions, particularly the withdrawal of external forces that were brought into the eastern provinces, as stated by a source from the presidential office to state news agency SABA. This dialogue is seen as a critical step towards stabilizing the region and restoring collaboration among various factions in a country that has faced turmoil for nearly a decade.
The STC has previously received support from the United Arab Emirates in the ongoing civil war, which has seen various groups vying for power after the Iran-aligned Houthi movement took control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. This complex dynamic underlines the importance of diplomacy and negotiation in these efforts to foster peace in Yemen’s volatile landscape.
As the situation evolves, the hope is that mutual cooperation will pave the way for a more stable and united Yemen, allowing for progress in the region and a potential resolution to the ongoing humanitarian crises.