A UAE-backed separatist group has taken control of key oil-rich provinces in southern Yemen, threatening to reignite the country’s long-stalled civil war and destabilize the wider Gulf region.

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized most of Hadramout and Mahra provinces this month, including major oil facilities. The STC, established in 2017 to restore an independent South Yemen, enjoys strong support across the southern half of the country and backing from the UAE.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. Saudi Arabia and the UAE later joined the conflict to support the government.

The latest clashes pit the STC against Yemeni government forces and their tribal allies, even as both sides are part of the anti-Houthi coalition. The STC’s recent advances, including control of the PetroMasila oil facility and a border crossing with Oman, give it significant leverage in any future negotiations over southern Yemen’s autonomy.

Saudi Arabia has sought to calm tensions, sending a delegation to Hadramout and emphasizing that it rejects attempts to create a “fait accompli.” Analysts say the UAE appears to have expanded its influence, while the STC’s actions undermine the fragile political balance among anti-Houthi partners.

The escalation comes amid a fragile truce with the Houthis, which had reduced violence since 2022. Observers warn that the takeover could destabilize Yemen further, heighten regional rivalries, and threaten critical trade routes along the Gulf.