CONFLICTED How Yemen Broke the Saudi-UAE Alliance
22 snips
Jan 15, 2026 Baraa Shiban, a Yemeni researcher and political analyst, dives deep into the fractured alliance between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen’s civil war. He reveals how differing goals fueled tensions and led to a public rift. The conversation explores the role of Yemeni political factions, the rise of the Southern Transitional Council, and the impact of parallel security structures. Shiban also discusses the UAE's counterterror strategies and the ongoing ramifications of these internal conflicts in the region.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
UAE Refused To Arm Islah In Taiz
- UAE tactical gains stalled near Taiz because many resistance fighters there were linked to Islah, which the UAE refused to empower.
- That hesitation allowed the Houthis to maintain a brutal siege on Taiz and undermined a unified anti-Houthi campaign.
UAE Founded Parallel Security Networks
- The UAE built parallel security structures in the south: bases, paramilitaries, detention sites, and hired mercenaries targeting Islah.
- Those parallel institutions weakened the Yemeni government's authority and deepened intra-coalition distrust.
Zubaydi Created The Southern Transitional Council
- After being sacked as Aden governor, Aydarous al-Zubaydi, backed by the UAE, formed the Southern Transitional Council in 2017.
- The STC created its own troops, counterterrorism units, and parallel power in the south.