1 hour ago
1
The United States and Russia have called for caution after Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes against the fighters under Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, STC, supported by the United Arab Emirates, UAE.
The separatist faction announced that the Friday operation targeted some of its elite forces in central Yemen’s Hadhramaut province, which borders Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi bombardment was conducted three weeks after the STC carried out an offensive to take over Hadhramaut after clashing with Yemeni government factions.
The STC also tried to seize control of Al-Mahrah in the south-east, which borders Oman, a move analysts argue could not have happened without the UAE’s involvement.
Saudi Arabia regards the attempt to overrun Hadhramaut, Yemen’s largest and richest region, as a breach, considering its business and security interests.
Riyadh, which aligns with the leadership in Yemen, is reportedly growing hostile to the UAE as the Gulf’s two powerhouses disagree over the conflicts in Yemen and Sudan.
On Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition vowed an immediate response to any UAE-backed separatists’ military movements that seek to sabotage de-escalation efforts in Yemen’s southern region.
The coalition spokesman, Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, warned that such “will be dealt with directly and immediately in order to protect civilian lives and ensure the success of restoring calm.”
Expressing concern about recent events in southeastern Yemen, the United States called for restraint and continued diplomacy, “with a view to reaching a lasting solution.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended the diplomatic intervention of the authorities of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, assuring support for “all efforts to advance our shared security interests.”
Russia said it was disturbed by the escalation of battles between various paramilitary units within the pro-government forces, indicating its readiness to continue constructive engagement.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, advised all parties to exercise restraint and to seek mutually acceptable solutions to the existing problems “through constructive intra-Yemeni dialogue.”
Moscow urged the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to intensify efforts on sustainable normalcy in the southern Arabian Peninsula and advance a comprehensive political settlement.
US, Russia caution as Saudi strikes UAE-backed fighters in Yemen
