Gunfire between former allies is now echoing across eastern Yemen. Saudi Arabia has issued a stark warning after UAE-backed STC forces seized oil-rich Hadramaut and al-Mahra, calling it an unjustified escalation. Riyadh has demanded an immediate withdrawal, as clashes between Saudi forces and STC mercenaries fuel fears of a full-scale Saudi–UAE proxy war inside an already fractured Yemen.
00:27Is Yemen about to witness a war no one expected between two allies on the same side of history?
00:36A dangerous question now gripping the region.
00:39Could Saudi Arabia and the UAE be heading toward confrontation inside this Muslim nation?
00:46The Saudi-led military coalition has issued a stern warning.
00:50Any military action by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, or STC, that disrupts de-escalation efforts in southern Yemen will be met with a direct response.
01:04The warning followed an urgent request from Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Saudi-backed government,
01:11citing what he described as serious humanitarian violations against civilians in Hadramaut by armed groups linked to the STC.
01:21Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki made it clear any military movement threatening calm on the ground will be dealt with immediately.
01:31The stated goal? Protecting civilians and preventing further escalation.
01:36Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its firm support for Yemen's internationally recognized government,
01:43urging all parties to show restraint and engage in peaceful initiatives aimed at stability.
01:48But the rhetoric soon hardened.
01:52Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman publicly warned the STC to withdraw from military camps in Hadramaut and al-Mahra,
02:01and hand them over to local authorities and the national shield forces.
02:06He urged the STC to prioritize unity, wisdom, and cooperation with Saudi-Emirati mediation efforts at what he called a critical juncture for Yemen.
02:16Tensions spiked on December 3rd when STC forces seized control of Hadramaut after clashes with Saudi-backed militants.
02:26The group then expanded into al-Mahra, encountering little resistance.
02:31In response, Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes targeting STC-linked positions near key oil fields.
02:38No casualties were reported, but the message was unmistakable.
02:44The STC says it remains open to cooperation with Saudi Arabia,
02:48seeking agreements that protect mutual interests while addressing southern Yemeni aspirations.
02:55But beneath the diplomacy lies a deeper rivalry.
02:58Since 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have fought side-by-side in the war on Yemen,
03:05yet both have competed for influence over ports, resources, and strategic trade routes.
03:12Critics argue Yemen is being reshaped to serve foreign agendas,
03:17with Hadramaut emerging as the focal point of this power struggle.
03:20Meanwhile, the north remains under Ansarula control,
03:25drawing global attention through actions targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping amid the Gaza War.
03:32Recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Sana have killed civilians,
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