Fri Jan 02 23:39:49 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:

Summary:

The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen declared a two-year transition to independence, despite facing airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition. These airstrikes, which resulted in 20 deaths, came after weeks of escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the STC’s recent territorial gains. The STC, led by Aidaros Alzubidi, is proposing dialogue with the Houthi-controlled North and a future independence referendum. However, they warned of an immediate declaration of independence if dialogue fails or they face further attacks. The situation highlights the fractured nature of Yemen’s conflict, where the Houthis control the North, and the Saudi-led coalition and UAE support rival factions within the government-held territories of the South. The UAE has reportedly withdrawn all its troops but maintains a commitment to dialogue.

News Article:

Yemen Separatists Announce Independence Bid Amidst Saudi Airstrikes

Mukalla, Yemen – January 2, 2026 – The Southern Transitional Council (STC), backed by the United Arab Emirates, declared a two-year transition towards independence for Southern Yemen on Friday, despite a barrage of airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition. The strikes, reportedly resulting in 20 casualties among STC fighters, targeted military bases and an airport in the south, escalating a rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the STC’s recent land grab.

“This constitutional declaration shall be considered immediately and directly effective before that date (January 2, 2028) if the call is not heeded or if the people of the South, their land, or their forces are subjected to any military attacks,” said STC President Aidaros Alzubidi in a televised address.

The STC’s announcement follows weeks of escalating tensions after they seized control of resource-rich regions of Hadramawt and Mahra. The Saudi-led coalition, which includes the UAE, has been attempting to roll back the STC’s advances, leading to Friday’s aerial bombardment.

If the STC’s plan materializes, Yemen, once divided between North and South from 1967 to 1990, could be split once again. The proposed new nation would be called South Arabia. Alzubidi stated the transition would include dialogue with the Houthi rebels who control the North, followed by a referendum on independence.

The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened in Yemen in 2015 to dislodge the Houthis, now finds itself at odds with its former allies in the UAE. A source close to the Saudi military warned the strikes would not cease until the STC withdraws from Hadramawt and Mahra. While the UAE has confirmed the withdrawal of its troops, a government official stated they remain committed to dialogue and de-escalation.

The situation underscores the deep divisions within Yemen, where a decade-long civil war has left the country fractured, with the Houthis controlling the North and a fractious coalition of groups, including the STC, holding the South. The STC’s military spokesman characterized its conflict with Saudi-backed forces as an “existential war” against “radical Islamism,” echoing long-held concerns of the UAE.

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