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Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen said connected Friday (January 2, 2026) that Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, the person of Yemen’s UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), refused landing permission the previous time for a level carrying a Saudi delegation to Aden.
The halt successful flights astatine Aden planetary airdrome was the latest motion of a deepening situation betwixt Gulf powers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose rivalry is reshaping war-torn Yemen.
“For respective weeks and until yesterday, the Kingdom sought to marque each efforts with the Southern Transitional Council to extremity the escalation ... but it faced continuous rejection and stubbornness from Aidarus Al-Zubaidi,” the Saudi ambassador, Mohammed Al-Jaber, said on X.
Yemen’s separatist STC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment connected Mr. Jaber’s statement.
Aidarus Al-Zubaidi issued directives to adjacent aerial postulation astatine Aden airdrome connected Thursday (January 1), the ambassador added, saying that a level carrying a Saudi delegation to Aden aiming to find solutions to the situation was denied support to land.
In a connection connected Thursday (January 1), the STC-controlled transport ministry accused Saudi Arabia of imposing an aerial blockade, saying Riyadh required each flights to spell via Saudi Arabia for other checks.
The UAE backs the STC, which seized swathes of confederate Yemen last period from the internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia, which successful crook saw the determination arsenic a threat.
The Aden planetary airdrome is the main gateway for regions of the state outside Houthi control.
