Key Facts
• On January 2, Saudi Arabia released footage of airstrikes on Southern Transitional Council areas.
• The Southern Transitional Council expanded control to central Yemen last month.
• Yemen’s civil war involves interim government forces and Houthi armed groups.
• The interim government, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched an operation to retake areas from the Southern Transitional Council on January 2.
• The United Arab Emirates supports the Southern Transitional Council.
• On December 30, Saudi forces bombed a port controlled by the Southern Transitional Council, citing weapons shipments from the UAE.
• The Southern Transitional Council announced plans for a referendum on southern independence within two years.
• Rising tensions risk further regional destabilization involving neighboring countries.
Summary
In Yemen’s ongoing civil war, the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group aiming for southern independence, has expanded its territorial control, including parts of central Yemen. This expansion has heightened tensions with the internationally recognized interim government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia. On January 2, Saudi forces conducted airstrikes targeting the Southern Transitional Council’s strongholds as part of an operation to reclaim lost areas. The United Arab Emirates backs the separatist council, and Saudi Arabia recently bombed a port under its control, alleging arms shipments from the UAE. The Southern Transitional Council also announced plans to hold a referendum on southern independence within two years, raising concerns about escalating conflict and regional instability involving neighboring states.
