Saudi-led Coalition Demands Yemen Separatist Withdrawal to Stabilize Aden
Saudi-led coalition demands Southern Transitional Council fighters withdraw from Aden to restore stability.
Photo by Levi Meir Clancy
The Saudi-led coalition has demanded that fighters from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a UAE-backed separatist group, withdraw from positions they seized in Aden, Yemen. This ultimatum aims to restore stability in the interim capital and pave the way for a broader political solution to the protracted Yemen conflict. The STC's actions have complicated efforts to unite anti-Houthi forces and have led to clashes with forces loyal to the internationally recognized government.
This development underscores the complex, multi-faceted nature of the Yemen war, involving various regional and international actors. For UPSC, understanding proxy conflicts and regional power dynamics in the Middle East is key for GS2 International Relations.
Key Facts
Saudi-led coalition demanded withdrawal of STC fighters from Aden.
STC is a UAE-backed separatist group.
The demand aims to restore stability in Yemen's interim capital.
UPSC Exam Angles
Geopolitical significance of Yemen (Bab-el-Mandeb Strait)
Proxy warfare and regional power dynamics (Saudi-Iran rivalry, UAE's independent foreign policy)
Humanitarian crisis and international humanitarian law
Role of international organizations (UN) in conflict resolution
Impact on global energy security and maritime trade routes
India's strategic interests (diaspora, energy security, trade routes)
Visual Insights
Yemen Conflict: Key Actors and Control (January 2026)
This map illustrates the complex territorial control and influence of major factions in Yemen as of early 2026, highlighting the strategic importance of Aden and the involvement of regional powers. The Saudi-led coalition supports the internationally recognized government, while the STC (backed by UAE) controls Aden, complicating anti-Houthi efforts. Houthis control the capital Sana'a and significant northern territories.
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More Information
Background
Yemen has a complex history, marked by a division into North and South Yemen until unification in 1990. Post-unification, internal grievances persisted, leading to the rise of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) representing the Zaidi Shia minority.
The Arab Spring in 2011 further destabilized the country, culminating in the Houthi takeover of the capital Sana'a in 2014 and the ousting of the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. This prompted a Saudi-led coalition, backed by the UAE and other Sunni Arab states, to intervene militarily in 2015 to restore Hadi's government.
Latest Developments
The conflict has evolved into a multi-faceted proxy war. While the Saudi-led coalition aims to counter Houthi influence (perceived as Iranian-backed), the coalition itself has fractured. The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a UAE-backed separatist group, has emerged as a powerful force in southern Yemen, clashing with forces loyal to the internationally recognized government, even though both are nominally anti-Houthi.
The recent demand by the Saudi-led coalition for STC withdrawal from Aden highlights these internal divisions within the anti-Houthi bloc, complicating efforts to achieve stability and a political solution. The conflict has led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the ongoing conflict in Yemen: 1. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) is a UAE-backed separatist group primarily active in northern Yemen. 2. The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, represents the Zaidi Shia minority and controls significant parts of northern Yemen. 3. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen with the stated aim of restoring the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) is active primarily in southern Yemen, advocating for the secession of the South. Statement 2 is correct; the Houthi movement is indeed a Zaidi Shia group controlling much of northern Yemen. Statement 3 is also correct; the Saudi-led coalition's primary stated objective was to restore the Hadi government.
2. In the context of the Yemen conflict, which of the following statements correctly describes the geopolitical significance of Yemen's location?
- A.Yemen controls the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for oil transit from the Persian Gulf.
- B.Its coastline borders the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
- C.Yemen is a landlocked country, making its internal stability less impactful on international maritime trade.
- D.The conflict primarily impacts the Suez Canal, as it directly borders the canal's southern entrance.
Show Answer
Answer: B
Option A is incorrect; the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by Iran and Oman. Option B is correct; Yemen's strategic location on the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is crucial for global maritime trade, especially oil and gas shipments between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Option C is incorrect as Yemen has a long coastline. Option D is incorrect; while the Suez Canal is part of the same maritime route, Yemen does not directly border its entrance.
3. Match List-I with List-II regarding key actors/groups associated with conflicts in the Middle East: List-I (Conflict/Region) 1. Yemen 2. Syria 3. Libya List-II (Associated Actor/Group) A. Southern Transitional Council (STC) B. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) C. Government of National Accord (GNA) Select the correct match using the code given below:
- A.1-A, 2-B, 3-C
- B.1-B, 2-A, 3-C
- C.1-C, 2-B, 3-A
- D.1-A, 2-C, 3-B
Show Answer
Answer: A
1-A: The Southern Transitional Council (STC) is a major separatist group in southern Yemen. 2-B: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are a multi-ethnic, multi-religious alliance of militias in Syria, primarily Kurdish, fighting ISIS and supported by the US. 3-C: The Government of National Accord (GNA) was the UN-recognized interim government of Libya, based in Tripoli, during the recent civil conflict.
4. Assertion (A): The Yemen conflict has led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with widespread food insecurity and disease outbreaks. Reason (R): International humanitarian law prohibits the targeting of civilian infrastructure and restricts the use of starvation as a method of warfare, but these principles have been consistently violated in the conflict. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
- B.Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- C.A is true but R is false.
- D.A is false but R is true.
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true. The Yemen conflict has indeed caused a severe humanitarian crisis. Reason (R) correctly identifies that violations of international humanitarian law, including targeting civilian infrastructure and blockades leading to starvation, are direct causes and exacerbating factors of this crisis, thus providing a correct explanation for A.