Sana'a: The Saudi ambassador to Yemen stated that Aidarus al-Al-Zubaidi, the head of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), blocked a Saudi delegation's landing in Aden by refusing landing clearance and ordered the closure of the city's airport.
According to Anadolu Agency, Mohammed Al-Jaber revealed on the platform X that Aden airport was closed following directives from the STC leadership, resulting in the cancellation of several flights, including one carrying a Saudi delegation scheduled to arrive on Thursday.
The ambassador warned that closing one of Yemen's operational airports poses a significant threat to political and security efforts aimed at reducing tensions. He described the airport's closure as an irresponsible act that undermines coordination efforts with regional and international partners, reflecting a preference for escalation over de-escalation.
Al-Jaber accused Al-Zubaidi of prioritizing personal political and financial interests, claiming these actions have no connection to the Southern secessionist cause or Yemen as a whole. On Thursday, the STC announced the suspension of operations at Aden International Airport, a crucial air gateway for areas outside Houthi control, which services flights to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.
The Saudi diplomat criticized Al-Zubaidi for making unilateral decisions that conflict with his political obligations as a member of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council. He accused him of leading military attacks in Hadhramaut and Mahra, causing security breakdowns and civilian harm. The envoy reiterated Saudi Arabia's support for the Southern cause but stressed that its resolution should be through political dialogue.
Hadhramaut's local authority condemned the STC's actions, calling them an unprecedented escalation that rejects peace and political dialogue. The authority emphasized that such moves threaten stability in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra and prioritize military escalation.
The Saudi delegation reportedly carried a proposal aimed at de-escalation and preventing conflict, advocating for the withdrawal of forces from Hadhramaut and Mahra military camps to be transferred to government-aligned Nation's Shield Forces. The focus was on political dialogue as the only resolution for the southern issue.
Obstructing Saudi mediation was described by the local authority as an act serving narrow agendas, risking security chaos in relatively stable provinces, which have previously led to civilian casualties. The escalation follows STC forces' control over Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, which comprise nearly half of Yemen's territory and border Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of encouraging STC forces to conduct military operations along the southern border in Hadramaut and Al-Mahra, an accusation denied by Abu Dhabi. Tensions further escalated following a Saudi-led coalition airstrike targeting weapons in Hadhramaut's Mukalla port, under STC control, allegedly arriving from the UAE's Fujairah port.
The UAE stated the weapons were intended solely for its forces and announced the conclusion of its counterterrorism mission in Yemen, noting its military withdrawal from the coalition in 2019. The STC claims successive Yemeni governments have marginalized southern regions, advocating for secession, a claim rejected by Yemeni authorities, who maintain commitment to national unity.