Yemen's Anti-Houthi Coalition Collapses as Saudi Airstrikes Target Former Ally; STC Leader Charged with Treason
Yemen's fragile anti-Houthi coalition effectively collapsed over the past 24 hours after the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) formally expelled and charged Southern Transitional Council (STC) President Aidarous al-Zoubaidi with high treason, triggering Saudi-led coalition airstrikes against STC positions and raising the specter of full-scale conflict in the country's liberated southern territories.
The dramatic political rupture, followed by immediate military escalation, marks the definitive failure of the 2019 Riyadh Agreement and threatens to transform Yemen's already devastating civil war into a multi-front conflict—one in which the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the north stand as the primary beneficiaries.
Treason Charges and Political Breakdown
PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi issued an executive decree Wednesday morning dismissing al-Zoubaidi from the council and referring him to the Prosecutor General on charges of "high treason" and "forming an armed gang."
The crisis escalated after al-Zoubaidi failed to board a scheduled flight to Riyadh for emergency de-escalation talks. According to intelligence reports, instead of attending the diplomatic summit, the STC leader mobilized armored units and heavy weaponry in Aden and Al-Dhale governorate.
Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki announced that al-Zoubaidi had "fled to an unknown location" after distributing weapons to loyalist factions—a claim the STC has denied.
Airstrikes and Troop Mobilization
In a significant shift in coalition operations, Saudi-led aircraft carried out approximately 15 "preemptive" airstrikes in Al-Dhale governorate, al-Zoubaidi's home region and political stronghold. The strikes targeted STC military camps and weapons depots, aimed at preventing reinforcements from reaching Aden.
Initial reports confirm between four and six fatalities, with STC sources alleging civilian casualties among the dead.
On the ground, opposing forces are now converging on Aden, Yemen's interim capital. STC officials assert that al-Zoubaidi remains in the city "to ensure security," with STC-aligned units deploying armored vehicles to key positions throughout the urban center.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-backed "Nation's Shield" (Deraya Al-Watan) forces, loyal to PLC Chairman al-Alimi, are reportedly advancing toward Aden from surrounding governorates, dramatically increasing the risk of urban combat.
Gulf Rift Exposed
The unfolding crisis has laid bare a deepening fracture between the coalition's principal backers: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
While the UAE recently announced a withdrawal of forces under Saudi pressure, Riyadh has accused Abu Dhabi of continuing to arm the STC. Coalition forces allegedly struck a UAE-linked weapons shipment earlier this week.
The United States Embassy has reiterated its support for the PLC and Yemen's territorial unity, implicitly endorsing the move against the separatist STC.
The instability has already produced humanitarian consequences beyond Yemen's borders: approximately 400 Australian tourists are reported stranded on the island of Socotra due to flight cancellations caused by the unrest.
Tensions Long in the Making
Analysts note that tensions had been building since December 2025, when STC forces unilaterally advanced into the oil-rich eastern governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahra—crossing what Riyadh considers a strategic "red line" for its own national security interests along the Yemeni border.
The political chaos has further exacerbated Yemen's economic collapse. The Yemeni Rial, already trading at historic lows of approximately 2,760 YER to the US dollar, faces additional volatility as the Central Bank in Aden and STC-aligned financial institutions struggle for control.
Outlook: 'Civil War Within a Civil War'
Military analysts warn the situation is rapidly deteriorating into what one regional expert described as "a civil war within a civil war."
With the anti-Houthi front now fractured, the Iran-backed Houthis controlling northern Yemen face no immediate military pressure while their opponents turn on each other.
Intensified clashes in Aden and Al-Dhale are expected over the next 48 to 72 hours as PLC forces attempt to assert control over the interim capital and neutralize STC resistance.
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