The Saudi-led coalition issued a sharp public accusation against the United Arab Emirates, alleging it orchestrated the secret escape of Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC). According to coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, Zubaidi, recently expelled from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council on charges of high treason, fled Aden by boat to Berbera, Somaliland, before being flown to Abu Dhabi via Mogadishu on a Russian-made cargo aircraft. The coalition unusually named a specific UAE major general as the coordinator of the operation, signaling a historic rift between the two Gulf allies.
Saudi Arabia alleges that the United Arab Emirates smuggled a separatist leader in Yemen wanted for treason out of the country and flew him to Abu Dhabi. https://t.co/NI0xpG6ovs
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 8, 2026
The escape follows a period of intense military friction, including Saudi airstrikes on STC positions and the recent takeover of Aden by Saudi-backed forces. While the STC initially claimed Zubaidi remained in the city to oversee operations, Saudi-owned media launched an aggressive campaign, branding him a fugitive on “WANTED” posters and airing intercepted calls as evidence of his flight. In Aden, a 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew has been imposed as pro-government “Giants Brigades” secure state institutions, effectively ending STC control of the temporary capital. This escalation marks the most serious confrontation between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in decades, threatening the unity of the anti-Houthi coalition.
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