The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has alleged the United Arab Emirates helped smuggle a separatist leader out of the country after he was expelled from Yemen's presidential council and accused of treason. A coalition spokesman stated that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), fled Aden on Tuesday night in a boat to Somaliland. From there, he was allegedly flown by cargo aircraft to Abu Dhabi, with UAE officers overseeing the operation.
However, the STC insisted Zubaidi was still working from Aden on Wednesday, despite the coalition claiming he had fled to an unknown location following his failure to fly to Riyadh for discussions.
The coalition accused Zubaidi of shifting STC forces from Aden to his home province of al-Dahle, which prompted air strikes in response that reportedly killed four people. The STC condemned the strikes as unjustified and inconsistent with ongoing dialogue efforts with Yemen's internationally recognized government.
The allegations continued as Maj Gen Turki al-Malki of the coalition revealed that Zubaidi and his associates left Aden on a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged passenger ship, sailing across the Gulf of Aden. The vessel reached Berbera in Somaliland, where a cargo aircraft was waiting. The aircraft then, under the supervision of UAE officers, flew to Mogadishu before heading towards the Arabian Sea.
This incident adds to the ongoing tensions in southern Yemen, where the STC has been attempting to establish control and push for an independent state. Saudi Arabia has expressed concern regarding the actions of UAE-backed forces, seeing them as a threat to national security and stability in the region. As these complexities unfold, the Saudi-led coalition continues to target STC forces, and the political landscape in Yemen remains volatile.
However, the STC insisted Zubaidi was still working from Aden on Wednesday, despite the coalition claiming he had fled to an unknown location following his failure to fly to Riyadh for discussions.
The coalition accused Zubaidi of shifting STC forces from Aden to his home province of al-Dahle, which prompted air strikes in response that reportedly killed four people. The STC condemned the strikes as unjustified and inconsistent with ongoing dialogue efforts with Yemen's internationally recognized government.
The allegations continued as Maj Gen Turki al-Malki of the coalition revealed that Zubaidi and his associates left Aden on a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged passenger ship, sailing across the Gulf of Aden. The vessel reached Berbera in Somaliland, where a cargo aircraft was waiting. The aircraft then, under the supervision of UAE officers, flew to Mogadishu before heading towards the Arabian Sea.
This incident adds to the ongoing tensions in southern Yemen, where the STC has been attempting to establish control and push for an independent state. Saudi Arabia has expressed concern regarding the actions of UAE-backed forces, seeing them as a threat to national security and stability in the region. As these complexities unfold, the Saudi-led coalition continues to target STC forces, and the political landscape in Yemen remains volatile.
