The Breakdown 29

• Saudi Arabia has made serious allegations against the UAE, claiming it helped smuggle Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, out of Yemen amid accusations of high treason.
• Al-Zubaidi’s dramatic escape, which involved a boat ride to Somaliland followed by a flight to Abu Dhabi, has heightened tensions between the two Gulf nations, both of which are embroiled in the complex conflict in Yemen.
• In retaliation to the situation, Saudi-backed forces have launched military operations to retake key southern cities, signaling an escalation of hostilities in the region.
• The controversy erupted after al-Zubaidi skipped crucial peace talks in Riyadh, leading to his expulsion from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council and further undermining unity among anti-Houthi forces.
• This crisis underscores the fractures within the Saudi-led coalition, as al-Zubaidi's actions have sparked allegations of betrayal among rival factions in the ongoing civil war.
• The international community watches closely as the unfolding events threaten to further destabilize an already tumultuous Yemen, marking yet another chapter in the protracted struggle for control in the region.