Yemen STC Delegation "Missing" in Riyadh

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A deepening rift within Yemen’s anti-Houthi coalition has escalated into a full-blown crisis following the disappearance of a 50-member Southern Transitional Council (STC) delegation in Riyadh and the launch of new Saudi airstrikes against separatist positions. The STC reported on Wednesday that it had lost all contact with its representatives shortly after they arrived in the Saudi capital for de-escalation talks, sparking fears of detention after their mobile phones were switched off and their whereabouts became unknown. This diplomatic breakdown was immediately followed by a move from the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), which officially expelled the STC leader and charged him with high treason for his reported refusal to participate in the Riyadh summit.

The situation turned kinetic as Saudi Arabia launched fresh airstrikes targeting the separatists, highlighting a dangerous fracture between the Saudi-led government forces and the UAE-backed STC. These internal clashes threaten to permanently dismantle the fragile alliance that has historically united against the Iranian-backed Houthis in the north. Observers note that the escalation is a visible symptom of the growing geopolitical rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over the future control and influence of southern Yemen, leaving the internationally recognised government more divided and vulnerable than ever.