Saudi-UAE Gulf Rift Widens as Yemen Strikes Signal Proxy Tensions
Opening
Saudi strikes on a UAE-backed faction in Yemen signal a widening Gulf rift, as air operations targeted southern separatist forces allied with Abu Dhabi amid territorial clashes in Hadhramaut and beyond.
Developments and Context
The action exposed deepening mistrust between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, with Saudi leaders framing strikes as necessary to curb unilateral advances that threaten de-escalation efforts while the UAE’s proxies press for control of resource-rich southern areas, complicating international mediation.
Regional Implications
Analysts warn the episode could shift Yemen from a civil conflict into a proxy theatre, undermine coalition cohesion, and force neighbors and Western partners to recalibrate diplomacy and security assistance to prevent broader destabilisation across the Arabian Peninsula.
