US EditionYemen’s southern separatists lose contact with delegation that traveled to Riyadh for talks
More than 50 Southern Transitional Council members lost contact after arriving in Riyadh amid Saudi airstrikes targeting STC positions in southern Yemen, with fears of detention raised.
- On Jan. 6, 2026, Yemen's Southern Transitional Council said a 50-member delegation arrived in Riyadh, but after one member posted on X, their phones switched off and their whereabouts became unknown.
- The Presidential Leadership Council said it expelled Aidarous al‑Zubaidi, Southern Transitional Council leader, charging him with treason after he reportedly declined Saudi talks; tensions escalated after two southern governorates were seized in December and the south's announced constitution last week.
- More than 15 Saudi airstrikes overnight hit the al-Dhale governorate and Mukalla, witnesses saw armored vehicles affiliated with the STC leave Aden for al-Dhale amid explosions, with two civilians dead and 14 injured, and the STC condemned the strikes reporting around 80 affiliates killed since December.
- The developments have further strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, deepening a rivalry over Yemen as the anti‑Houthi leadership group remains fragmented and unable to act in unison.
- After Saudi pressure, the United Arab Emirates said Saturday it had withdrawn its forces from Yemen, while Saudi Arabia bombed STC positions and struck alleged Emirati weapons shipments, risking wider escalation.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Yemen separatists lose contact with delegation in Saudi Arabia for talks
Yemeni separatists said on Wednesday they had lost contact with more than 50 senior delegates who had travelled to Riyadh for talks, and accused Saudi Arabia of arbitrarily detaining the group. Witnesses last saw the delegates boarding a black bus at Riyadh airport.
Yemen’s southern separatists lose contact with delegation that travelled to Riyadh for talks
A separatist group in southern Yemen said Wednesday it was urgently trying to contact its delegation that traveled to the Saudi capital for talks on de-escalating tensions among rival forces on the ground.
A coalition led by Saudi Arabia bombed on Wednesday the home province of the Yemeni separatist leader backed by the United Arab Emirates, after he did not come to the talks in Riyadh and was expelled from the country's presidential organ.
Yemen’s Saudi-Backed Council Expels Separatist Leader, Accuses Him of Treason
Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) said on Jan. 7 it had stripped separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi of his membership and referred him to the public prosecutor on charges including high treason after he failed to board a flight to attend Saudi-brokered talks in Riyadh, aimed at containing clashes between rival Yemeni factions. The PLC also announced the dismissal of two cabinet ministers, Transport Minister Abdul Sala…
Yemen Separatist Leader Flees, Riyadh Talks in Doubt
The leader of Yemen’s southern separatists, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, fled to an unknown location on Wednesday, skipping a flight to Riyadh for talks aimed at resolving the southern crisis. His disappearance comes amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which exposed fractures within the coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen’s decade-long […] The post Yemen Separatist Leader Flees, Riyadh Talks in Do…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
