As Riyadh responds to calls for the group to “peacefully” withdraw from recently seized eastern provinces, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says it will respond to any separatist military movements that undermine de-escalation efforts in the southern region.
Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman stated on Saturday on X that “it’s time” for STC troops to “let reason prevail by resuming their positions and conducting their actions peacefully.”
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According to the Saudi-led coalition’s spokesman, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, “any military movements that violate these [de-escalation] efforts will be dealt with directly and immediately to protect civilian lives and ensure the success of restoring calm,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Without providing any supporting supporting evidence, Al-Maliki also accused the STC separatists of “grave and horrifying human rights violations against civilians”.
The STC accused Saudi Arabia of conducting air strikes on separatist positions in Yemen’s Hadramout province the day after Washington called for restraint in the rapidly escalating conflict.
In the provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra, forces aligned with the STC earlier this month took large chunks of the government’s control of Hadramout and al-Mahra. The government and the STC have collaborated extensively with Iran in the Houthi rebels’ fight.
The Saudi defense minister’s remarks were welcomed by Abdullah al-Alimi, a member of the internationally renowned government’s presidential leadership council, saying they “clearly reflect the kingdom’s steadfast stance and sincere concern for Yemen’s security and stability.”
After an emergency meeting late on Friday, Rashad al-Alimi, the president’s leader, declared that STC movements posed “serious violations against civilians.”
The STC wants to resurrect South Yemen, a state that was once independent, with the support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The organization issued a warning on Friday that attacks on their positions by Saudi Arabia were unrestable.
Diplomacy and de-escalation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked in Washington that “we call for restraint and continued diplomacy in order to find a lasting solution.”
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan applauded Saudi Arabia’s and the UAE’s efforts to ease Yemen’s ongoing tensions.
Yemen’s government demanded support for its forces in Hadramout following separatists’ invasion of the country’s largest province on Friday.
According to the official Yemeni news agency, the government directed the coalition to “take all necessary military measures to support the armed forces in Hadramout province and protect innocent Yemeni civilians there.”
About 15, 000 Saudi-backed fighters were amassed close to the Saudi border, according to a Yemeni military official on Friday, despite receiving no instructions to advance into separatist-held territory. The STC has recently taken control of the areas where they were deployed, which are close to the borders of that territory.
Separatist advancements have increased pressure on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both of whom are close allies of Yemen’s government and who support opposing interests.
As the two Gulf allies sought to present a front that was united on Friday, the UAE applauded Saudi efforts to boost Yemeni security.
The separatists are among the groups that make up Yemen’s government, which is united under a common front against the Houthis.
