Saudi-Led Coalition Accuses UAE of Smuggling Yemeni Separatist Leader Out of Country

The Saudi led coalition fighting in Yemen has accused the United Arab Emirates of secretly helping a senior separatist figure flee the country, deepening strains within the alliance that has long been presented as united against Yemen’s instability.

According to a coalition spokesperson, Aidarous al Zubaidi, head of the UAE backed Southern Transitional Council, was smuggled out of Yemen after being expelled from the presidential leadership council and accused of treason. The allegations mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over their competing visions for Yemen’s political future.

The coalition said al Zubaidi left the southern port city of Aden late on Tuesday night by boat, crossing the Gulf of Aden to Somaliland. From there, he was allegedly flown to Abu Dhabi aboard a cargo aircraft via Mogadishu, with the operation overseen by Emirati officers. The coalition described the episode as a deliberate act that undermined Yemeni sovereignty and violated agreements governing the alliance.

Aidarous al Zubaidi has been a central figure in southern Yemen’s separatist movement and leads the Southern Transitional Council, which seeks independence or broad autonomy for the south. The group has been supported politically and militarily by the United Arab Emirates and has frequently clashed with forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

The accusations come shortly after al Zubaidi was removed from Yemen’s presidential council, a body formed to unify rival factions under a single leadership framework. Coalition officials said his expulsion followed accusations that he had conspired against the state and worked to fragment the country at a time when unity was deemed essential.

Saudi officials argue that the alleged extraction of al Zubaidi exposes a growing rift within the coalition. While Saudi Arabia has prioritised preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity under a central government, the UAE has been accused of backing separatist actors who control large parts of the south, including Aden and key coastal areas.

The United Arab Emirates has not publicly responded to the claims. Emirati officials have previously rejected accusations that they undermine Yemen’s unity, saying their involvement is aimed at combating extremist groups and stabilising liberated areas. The UAE has also maintained that southern political aspirations cannot be ignored in any lasting settlement.

Analysts say the episode highlights the fragility of alliances formed during the Yemen war. What began as a joint intervention has evolved into a complex power struggle, with coalition partners backing different local actors and pursuing overlapping but increasingly divergent goals.

Yemen’s conflict has already fractured the country along political, tribal and regional lines. The removal and alleged escape of a prominent separatist leader risks inflaming tensions in the south, where the Southern Transitional Council retains significant popular support and military capacity.

The Saudi led coalition warned that any attempt to bypass Yemeni authorities or remove political figures without consent could further destabilise the situation. Officials said accountability would be pursued through diplomatic and political channels, though they did not specify what action might be taken.

For Yemen’s fragile political process, the dispute adds another layer of uncertainty. Efforts to form a unified front against armed groups and negotiate a broader settlement have repeatedly stalled amid mistrust between factions and their external backers.

As regional powers reassess their roles, the fate of figures like Aidarous al Zubaidi underscores how unresolved questions about governance, sovereignty and regional autonomy continue to shape Yemen’s war. Whether the allegations lead to open confrontation within the coalition or are managed quietly behind the scenes may have significant implications for the country’s already fragile future.