Saudi-led coalition accuses UAE of aiding Yemen separatist leader’s escape
Aidarous al-Zubaidi allegedly smuggled to Abu Dhabi after being expelled from presidential council, coalition says
ADEN, Yemen (MNTV) — The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has alleged that the United Arab Emirates assisted Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), in fleeing the country following his removal from Yemen’s presidential council and accusations of treason.
A coalition spokesman said Zubaidi departed Aden by boat on Tuesday night, reaching Somaliland before boarding a cargo aircraft to Abu Dhabi via Mogadishu under the supervision of UAE personnel. No comment was immediately available from the UAE or the STC.
Despite the coalition’s claims, the STC maintained on Wednesday that Zubaidi was still operating from Aden, after reports that he missed scheduled talks in Riyadh and had left for an undisclosed location.
The coalition also accused Zubaidi of relocating STC forces from Aden to his home province of al-Dhale and said it carried out airstrikes against these positions, reportedly killing four people.
The STC condemned the strikes as unjustified and contrary to calls for dialogue with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Coalition spokesman Maj Gen Turki al-Malki said reliable intelligence indicated Zubaidi and associates departed Aden aboard a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged vessel, sailing across the Gulf of Aden to Berbera in Somaliland, where a cargo plane awaited them.
The group reportedly flew first to Mogadishu before continuing toward the Arabian Sea, with the aircraft disabling identification systems over the Gulf of Oman and reactivating them shortly before landing at Al-Reef Military Air Base in Abu Dhabi.
Southern Yemen has recently been on the brink of renewed conflict, with factions aligned with the STC seeking greater control in the south and challenging government-loyal forces.
Saudi Arabia warned that advances near its borders threatened national security and criticized the UAE for encouraging STC movements into eastern Yemen.
The coalition also struck a shipment of weapons and vehicles reportedly bound for the STC from the UAE. While the UAE denied the presence of arms and expressed regret over the allegations, it agreed to withdraw its remaining forces.
Following coalition airstrikes, government-loyal forces have retaken control of Hadramawt, al-Mahra, and parts of Aden, restoring influence over key areas in southern Yemen.
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