MBS ‘SEETHES’ As UAE-backed Forces Refuse To Retreat After Airstrikes

Yemen’s fragile balance is cracking once again. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) has openly rejected a Saudi call to withdraw from eastern provinces it seized earlier this month, vowing to maintain control over Hadramout and Mahra despite mounting regional pressure. The defiance comes after Saudi airstrikes reportedly targeted STC forces, escalating tensions between former allies in a war already entering its second decade. As Saudi Arabia pushes for de-escalation and the return of forces to previous positions, the United Arab Emirates has publicly backed Saudi efforts to stabilise Yemen, even as it continues to support the STC politically. With clashes on the ground, rival claims of legitimacy, and the Houthis still controlling the north, Yemen’s conflict is splintering further — raising urgent questions about unity, sovereignty, and the future of the Saudi-UAE alliance.