The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has claimed that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), escaped Yemen by boat before boarding a plane to Mogadishu. The aircraft later landed at a military airport in Abu Dhabi.
This dramatic move has heightened tensions between two Gulf powerhouses, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Zubaidi had missed scheduled crisis talks in Riyadh on Wednesday regarding unrest in southern Yemen. According to the separatists, he had been summoned to Saudi Arabia under threat. The post tweeted from Rich Tedd account on X can be taken as reference.
🚨 Breaking:
The Saudi-led 🇸🇦 Arab coalition has just confirmed that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of the UAE-backed 🇦🇪 Southern Transitional Council (STC), fled Yemen 🇾🇪 by sea to Somaliland, before being flown aboard an IL-76TD w\ reg. 7Q-ASU to Al Reef Air Base in Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪. pic.twitter.com/XuQ1fAmn8k
— Rich Tedd 🛰 ✈️ (@AfriMEOSINT) January 8, 2026
Aidarous al Zubaidi’s Escape’ Raises Questions
Mohammed Al Ghaith, a senior STC official, said on X that a delegation from Zubaidi’s group had fruitful talks in Riyadh with the Saudi ambassador to Yemen. His remarks hinted at possible divisions within the separatist ranks, complicating efforts to stabilize southern Yemen amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
According to the coalition, Zubaidi and others traveling with him from Mogadishu to Abu Dhabi were under UAE officers’ supervision. They reportedly waited an hour in Mogadishu before flying to Abu Dhabi’s military airport. The coalition did not clarify whether Zubaidi was still on board while en route, but confirmation of his arrival in the UAE capital could provoke Saudi frustration, as Riyadh had urged the UAE to rein in the separatists following their southern advances.
Rift Between Saudi Arabia and UAE Deepens
The coalition’s assertion that the UAE assisted Zubaidi’s escape intensifies a crisis that began last month when southern separatists advanced rapidly through Yemen, reaching the Saudi border. The incident has strained the alliance between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which leads a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government in its fight against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Differences between the two US allies extend beyond Yemen, spanning geopolitical disputes, oil policy, and regional influence. The crisis in Yemen has brought these underlying tensions to the forefront.
UAE’s Role and Regional Strategy
The UAE, which has withdrawn most of its forces from Yemen, has advocated for de-escalation in the country, which faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises due to the ongoing civil war. The incident highlights the UAE’s assertive foreign policy and growing influence in the Middle East and Africa, now underscored by the rare military disagreement with Saudi Arabia.
The coalition noted that the plane turned off its identification system over the Gulf of Oman, only turning it back on ten minutes before arriving at Abu Dhabi’s Al Reef military airport. The statement also named the UAE officer involved in Zubaidi’s escape.
Aidarous al-Zubaidi’s Role in Southern Yemen
Prior to the escape, Zubaidi missed a flight to Riyadh for crisis talks, leaving his whereabouts uncertain. The STC later confirmed that he was overseeing military and security operations in Aden, Yemen’s southern port city. The aircraft used resembled planes often deployed in conflict zones across Ethiopia, Libya, and Somalia.
Saudi-UAE Intervention in Yemen
Saudi Arabia and the UAE first entered Yemen after the Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014. The UAE joined the Saudi-led coalition in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government. The STC was formed in 2017 with UAE backing and eventually joined the coalition, controlling much of southern and eastern Yemen.
