Joint Saudi-UAE Military Delegation Arrives in Aden Amid Rising Tensions in Eastern Yemen
A joint military delegation from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has arrived in Aden, the southern Yemeni city that serves as the headquarters of the government supported by the Saudi-led coalition.
According to reports, the visit comes in response to renewed tensions in eastern Yemeni provinces, including Al-Mahrah, Hadhramaut, and Shabwah. The delegation aims to ease disputes between forces aligned with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi and to enhance coordination of military operations against the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) in northern Yemen.
In recent days, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is backed by the UAE, has taken control of several key areas in eastern Yemen, including oil facilities.
Meanwhile, Nabil Al-Haddah, head of a Yemeni human rights organization, stated that the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen has gone beyond cooperation and has turned into a battle for influence. He added that the ongoing conflict in Yemen is more than just a civil war and increasingly reflects broader regional competition.
Al-Haddah further noted that the UAE seeks to establish a permanent presence on Yemen’s strategic islands, while Saudi Arabia aims to expand its influence in Hadhramaut. Analysts say these actions reflect the continuation of a long-running power struggle between the two Gulf allies in Yemen.
Separately, a source from the Southern Transitional Council denied reports suggesting the group’s forces had withdrawn from Hadhramaut. The source affirmed that there are no discussions underway about reducing the southern forces’ military presence in eastern provinces.
