In Yemen, Saudi-led coalition accuses UAE of helping Yemen separist Leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi to flee, the head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), of making a daring escape from the country. “The escape of Aidarous al-Zubaidi is a clear indication of the UAE’s involvement in the crisis in Yemen,” said a senior Saudi official.
Zubaidi, who had been invited to Riyadh for crisis talks, fled Yemen by boat and boarded an aircraft to Mogadishu, which subsequently landed at a military airport in Abu Dhabi. According to sources, the plane took off from Mogadishu with its identification system turned off, and only turned it back on 10 minutes prior to arrival at Abu Dhabi’s military airport.
The incident has escalated tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the two most powerful countries in the oil-rich Gulf. “The UAE’s actions are undermining the efforts to resolve the crisis in Yemen,” said a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition.
The two close US allies have sharp differences over a wide range of volatile issues across the Middle East. “The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE is a major obstacle to resolving the Yemen crisis,” said Dr. Abdullah Al Shayji, a Kuwaiti political analyst.
Zubaidi’s absence from the Riyadh talks on Wednesday had raised concerns about his safety and whereabouts. “We had concerns about his safety, but we did not expect him to escape,” said a senior STC official.
The STC had claimed that he had been asked to go to Saudi Arabia under threat. “We were invited to Riyadh for talks, but we knew it was a trap,” said a spokesperson for the STC.
The Saudi-led coalition has alleged that the UAE helped Zubaidi escape, raising the stakes in a crisis that erupted last month when the separatists swept through southern Yemen and reached the border with Saudi Arabia. “The UAE’s involvement is clear, and we will not tolerate it,” said a senior Saudi official.
Escalation Tensions in the Middle East
The fast-moving developments have caused a rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, fracturing a coalition headed by Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is battling the Iran-backed Houthis. “The situation is getting out of control, and it’s time for the international community to intervene,” said a Yemeni analyst.
A delegation from the STC held fruitful talks in Riyadh with the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, suggesting a split may be emerging among the separatists. “The STC is divided, and this could lead to further complications,” said a senior Yemeni official.
The coalition’s statement on Thursday claimed that Zubaidi and others accompanying him on the plane to Mogadishu were under the supervision of UAE officers. “This is a clear indication of the UAE’s involvement in the crisis,” said a spokesperson for the coalition.
The UAE has called for de-escalation in Yemen, reeling from one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises caused by the civil war. “We are committed to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis,” said a UAE official.
There was no immediate comment from the UAE or the STC headed by Zubaidi. “The silence is deafening, and it’s clear that the UAE is trying to hide something,” said a senior Saudi official.
Middle East Foreign Policy
The UAE has pursued an assertive foreign policy, carving out its own sphere of influence across the Middle East and Africa. “The UAE is trying to expand its influence, but it’s causing more harm than good,” said Dr. Al Shayji.
The STC was set up in 2017 with UAE backing and eventually joined the government coalition, which controls southern and eastern Yemen. “The STC is a key player in the crisis, and its actions will determine the future of Yemen,” said a senior Yemeni analyst.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE first intervened in Yemen after the Houthis seized the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014. The UAE joined the Saudi-backed coalition the following year in support of the internationally recognised government, highlighting the complexities of the conflict in Yemen. “The situation is complex, and it’s going to take a lot of effort to resolve it,” said a senior UN official.
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