Yemen faces ‘civil war within a civil war’ after fighting in Aden highlights Saudi-UAE rift
- Southern separatists seized the presidential palace in second city, threatening to push the war-ravaged nation deeper into turmoil
- Saudi Arabia and UAE appear to have diverging interests in Yemen, where war has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis
A Saudi-led coalition launched on Sunday a strike against Yemen’s southern separatists after they seized the presidential palace in second city Aden in deadly fighting that threatened to push the war-ravaged nation deeper into turmoil.
The seizure, decried by the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government as a UAE-supported coup, reflects deep divisions between secessionists and loyalist forces, both of whom have fought Shiite Houthi rebels.
“The coalition targeted an area that poses a direct threat to one of the important sites of the legitimate government,” a statement said, calling on the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) to withdraw from positions seized in Aden or face further attacks.
Nizar Haitham, spokesman of the Southern Transitional Council, said: “There isn’t any withdrawal. To whom would we hand over these posts? This should be discussed during the talks the coalition called for.”
Since the fighting flared on Thursday, about 40 people have been killed and 260 others including civilians wounded, according to the UN.
“It is heartbreaking that during Eid al-Adha, families are mourning the death of their loved ones instead of celebrating together in peace and harmony,” said Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen.
