The Southern Transitional Council’s announcement of a provisional constitution marks the clearest institutional step yet toward southern secession in Yemen. Issued on Friday, the 30-article document frames itself as the legal foundation of a new entity, the “State of South Arabia,” reviving the borders of the former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen that existed from 1967 to 1990. STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi said the charter would apply for two years, after which a referendum would be held on “exercising the right to self-determination for the people of the South.” He warned that if rival factions rejected dialogue or resorted to force, “all options remain open.” The declaration comes after STC-linked forces seized two southern provinces last month and took over the presidential palace in Aden, forcing members of the internationally recognised government to relocate to Riyadh.

“This Is Not a Declaration of War”

The political move unfolded alongside fresh military pressure. On Friday, Saudi warplanes struck camps and military positions held by STC forces in Hadramout province as Saudi-backed units attempted to retake the facilities. Ahmed bin Breik, a senior STC official and former Hadramout governor, said Saudi aircraft intervened after separatist forces refused to withdraw. STC spokesperson Mohamed al-Nakib said the strikes caused fatalities, without specifying numbers. Salem al-Khanbashi, the Hadramout governor appointed the same day by the internationally recognised government to command coalition forces in the province, sought to limit escalation. “This is not a declaration of war and is not seeking an escalation,” he said on Yemen TV, describing the operation as a pre-emptive effort to remove weapons and restore order.

Coalition Strains and Gulf Rivalry

The confrontation highlights the widening rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, once aligned as the twin pillars of the Saudi-led coalition formed in 2015 to fight Iranian-backed Houthi forces controlling northern Yemen. While Riyadh backs the internationally recognised government, Abu Dhabi has supported the STC as a dominant security actor in the south. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday it was handling the crisis with “restraint, coordination, and a deliberate commitment to de-escalation.” Early Saturday, the UAE Defence Ministry announced that its withdrawal of troops from Yemen was complete, citing the conclusion of remaining counterterrorism missions. No figures were given, though multiple Emirati military cargo flights had been observed in recent days. The withdrawal follows weeks of Saudi strikes on STC positions and an earlier Saudi-backed call for UAE forces to leave within 24 hours.

Airspace, Authority, and Escalation Control

The political and military clash has spilled into civilian infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, said the STC leader had blocked a Saudi delegation’s aircraft from landing in Aden, despite prior coordination. Yemen’s STC-aligned Transport Ministry countered that Riyadh imposed new requirements forcing flights to undergo inspections in Jeddah, effectively disrupting traffic. Aden International Airport, the main gateway for areas outside Houthi control, saw flights halted, including routes to the UAE. As Saudi-backed National Shield Forces advanced on STC-held camps in Hadramout and Mahra, the separatists refused to hand over weapons or facilities. The constitution announcement, military strikes, and airspace dispute together underscore how Yemen’s internal fractures are now directly testing the cohesion and command structure of the broader Gulf-backed coalition.