Southern Yemen separatists on Friday accused Saudi Arabia of launching airstrikes against their forces in the eastern governorate of Hadramout, further raising tensions in the conflict-hit country.
The Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, said the strikes targeted its fighters after clashes in the area. Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment on the allegation.
Amr Al Bidh, a foreign affairs representative of the Council, told The Associated Press that its forces were operating in eastern Hadramout when they came under multiple ambushes by gunmen. He said two fighters were killed and 12 others wounded before the alleged Saudi airstrikes took place.
A tribal leader in Hadramout, Faez bin Omar, said the strikes appeared to be a warning for the Council to withdraw its forces from the area. An eyewitness said several military vehicles were destroyed and were believed to belong to forces aligned with the separatists.
The Council’s satellite television channel aired video footage it said showed the aftermath of the strikes, with a voice blaming Saudi aircraft for the attack.
The accusations came a day after Saudi Arabia urged the Emirati-backed separatists to pull out of areas they recently entered. Earlier this month, the Council moved into Hadramout and Mahra, displacing forces linked to the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, another member of the coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The developments have increased strain between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, close allies who support different factions in Yemen. The UAE said on Friday it welcomed Saudi efforts to support security and stability in Yemen and reaffirmed its commitment to stability and development in the country.
Yemen has been locked in war since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, but years of fighting have killed more than 150,000 people and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Renewed fighting in southern Yemen risks further destabilizing the country, while the Houthis continue attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, adding to regional tensions.