Saudi Arabia vowed to provide a “suitable environment for dialogue,” calling upon “all southern factions to participate in the conference to develop a comprehensive vision for just solutions."

Yemen's Southern Transitional Council aims to hold a referendum on independence in two years. This move challenges the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and intensifies regional tensions. The UAE has approached the situation with restraint,

Yemen's transport ministry, which is affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, said it was “shocked” by what it denounced as “sudden procedures” requiring international flights departing from or arriving in Aden to stop in Jeddah for inspection before continuing their journeys.

The Saudi-backed government in Yemen said it would send forces to reclaim territory from a group that the United Arab Emirates supports.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have for years supported various factions within Yemen's government-run territories, intervening in the neighboring country's long-running civil war.

The announcement by the UAE-backed separatist group follows major escalations with Saudi Arabia and the internationally-recognized government.

The Souther Transitional Council (STC) separatists said its forces will continue to be deployed in the recently occupied provinces

The Saudi-backed governor of Yemen's Hadramout province plans a peaceful operation to reclaim military sites from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council. Amid escalating tensions between Gulf powers,