The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of facilitating the departure of separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi from Yemen. Zubaidi, who heads the Southern Transitional Council (STC), was previously expelled from Yemen's presidential council and faced accusations of treason. The STC, however, maintained that Zubaidi remained in Aden, while Somalia's immigration agency initiated an investigation into alleged unauthorized use of its airspace related to the incident.
Allegations of Departure
A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition stated that Aidarous al-Zubaidi departed Aden on Tuesday night by boat, traveling to Somaliland. Subsequently, he was reportedly flown via a cargo aircraft to Abu Dhabi, with a stop in Mogadishu, under the alleged supervision of UAE officers.
On Thursday, Major General Turki al-Malki, a coalition spokesman, provided further details, presenting what he described as "reliable intelligence." According to Malki, Zubaidi and his associates departed from Aden's port in the early hours of Wednesday aboard a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged passenger ship. The vessel reportedly sailed across the Gulf of Aden to Berbera in Somaliland.
Malki stated that an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft was awaiting in Berbera, which Zubaidi and his associates allegedly boarded under the supervision of UAE officers. The flight's initial destination was Mogadishu, Somalia, before it proceeded towards the Arabian Sea "without a declared destination." The aircraft's identification systems were reportedly disabled over the Gulf of Oman and reactivated approximately 10 minutes before its landing at Al-Reef Military Air Base in Abu Dhabi. Malki did not confirm whether Zubaidi remained on board the aircraft upon its arrival in Abu Dhabi.
Responses and Contradictions
Neither the UAE nor the STC issued immediate comments regarding the initial claims of Zubaidi's departure. On Wednesday, the STC maintained that Zubaidi was still operating from Aden. This statement contrasted with the coalition's assertion that Zubaidi had failed to attend talks in Riyadh and had fled to an undisclosed location.
Further Coalition Claims and Military Action
The coalition also accused Zubaidi of relocating STC forces from their bases in Aden to his home province of al-Dahle. In response to these movements, the coalition conducted air strikes, which reportedly resulted in four fatalities. The STC described these strikes as "unjustified" and "inconsistent" with ongoing calls for dialogue with Yemen's internationally recognized government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia and overseen by the presidential council.
Regional Context and Investigation
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have collaborated in the conflict against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement over the past decade. However, increasing disagreements between rival factions supported by each nation have contributed to heightened tensions, raising concerns about potential escalation in southern Yemen.
In response to the alleged incident, Somalia's immigration agency has initiated an investigation into the "alleged unauthorised use" of its airspace and airports.