Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, publicly accused the head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidarus al-Zubaidi, of personally preventing a Saudi diplomatic plane from landing in Aden earlier this month.
In a statement on X, Ambassador Al Jaber declared that al-Zubaidi “issued direct orders to close Aden Airport to air traffic,” thwarting the arrival of a Saudi delegation in early January. The delegation aimed to mediate solutions to Yemen’s ongoing crisis.
“For several weeks, the Kingdom has been making every effort with the STC to end the escalation… but it has faced continued rejection and intransigence from Aidarus al-Zubaidi,” the ambassador stated.
The accusation follows reports that Yemen’s Transport Minister, Abdul Salam Hamid—an STC affiliate—ordered a complete shutdown of Aden Airport. According to a Saudi source speaking to Reuters, this move defied a directive from the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council government, which had sought only to restrict flights to and from Abu Dhabi and Dubai in a bid to de-escalate tensions.
The incident highlights the deepening rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose ally, the STC, controls much of southern Yemen, including Aden. Tensions have been exacerbated by the STC’s expansion into the oil-rich governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, which Riyadh opposes. The rivalry recently escalated into a Saudi airstrike targeting suspected UAE-supported military reinforcements at Mukalla port.
The airport closure represents a significant obstacle to diplomatic efforts and underscores the complex power struggle between regional and local actors vying for influence in Yemen’s protracted conflict.
Source: Agencies (translated and edited by Al-Manar)