Fri Jan 02 04:13:24 UTC 2026: Summary:

Flights from Aden International Airport in Yemen were suspended amidst escalating tensions between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The STC accused Saudi Arabia of requiring flights to the UAE to land in Jeddah for inspection, a claim Saudi sources denied, stating the Yemeni government imposed the requirement due to concerns over STC money smuggling. This comes amid broader tensions regarding the STC’s expansion in southern Yemen, accusations of UAE support for the STC, and the UAE’s withdrawal of troops from Yemen. The STC has defied calls to withdraw from contested provinces, further destabilizing the already war-torn nation.

News Article:

Aden Airport Flights Halted Amid Separatist-Saudi Tension

Aden, Yemen – Flights from Aden International Airport were suspended Thursday, highlighting deepening rifts between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The STC, a separatist group seeking autonomy in southern Yemen, accused Saudi Arabia of imposing new restrictions requiring flights to the United Arab Emirates to first land in Jeddah for inspection.

However, a Saudi source denied the claim, telling Reuters that the Yemeni government, led by the Presidential Leadership Council, instigated the requirement. Thabet al-Ahmadi, a Yemeni presidential advisor, confirmed that the government imposed the restriction on the UAE flight route due to concerns about the STC smuggling money. He added that the government did not support a complete halt to flights.

The flight suspension comes as tensions rise over the STC’s expansion of its military operations in the southern provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra, which border Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has accused the UAE of supporting the STC’s expansion. While the UAE denies such support, it has begun withdrawing its troops from Yemen.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the internationally recognised government, warned that any further entrenchment of the STC in the provinces would have severe consequences. The STC, however, remains defiant, stating it would remain in the provinces.

Yemen has been gripped by civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels controlling the north and the STC and government battling for control of the south. The recent flight suspension adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation.

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