Saudi Arabia warns: The Kingdom's security is a red line, and the Southern Transitional Council's actions are unacceptable
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its firm stance regarding the rapidly evolving situation in Yemen's southern provinces, emphasizing that its national security is a "red line" that cannot be compromised. This Saudi move is a continuation of Riyadh's unwavering approach to preserving regional security and supporting stability in Yemen. The Kingdom considers the pressure exerted by the UAE on the Southern Transitional Council forces to conduct military operations near the southern Saudi border a direct threat to Saudi national security and a clear violation of the principles upon which the Coalition to Support Legitimacy was founded.
Dimensions of the security threat and the strategic context
The recent Saudi warning cannot be separated from the sensitive geographical and political context of the region. The governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra represent a strategic depth for both Saudi and Yemeni national security. Riyadh views any uncoordinated military movements in these border areas, particularly those conducted outside the framework of the legitimate Yemeni state, as undermining de-escalation efforts and risking dragging the region into chaos that serves the enemies of stability. The Kingdom has made it clear that any threat to its security will be met with all necessary steps and measures to neutralize it immediately.
Calls for the UAE to abide by the decisions of legitimacy
In a related context, the Kingdom stressed the necessity for the United Arab Emirates to respond to the demands of the Republic of Yemen, which included calls for the withdrawal of military forces from Yemeni territory within 24 hours and the cessation of any financial or military support to any factions operating outside the control of the state. Riyadh hopes that wisdom and the principles of brotherhood and good neighborliness, which have long united the Gulf Cooperation Council states, will prevail, emphasizing that Yemen's best interests require unity, not division.
The Riyadh Agreement and the future of the southern issue
The Kingdom reaffirmed its support for the just cause of the South, considering it an integral part of the outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue and any future political settlement. However, Riyadh stressed that the solution will not come through imposing a fait accompli by military force, but rather through dialogue, consensus, and adherence to the outcomes of the Riyadh Agreement. This agreement, sponsored by the Kingdom, guaranteed the South's effective participation in government and state institutions, and enshrined the principle of partnership as an alternative to exclusionary policies.
Ongoing efforts to contain the escalation
Since the recent events in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, the Kingdom has led intensive diplomatic and field efforts with all parties, including the legitimate Yemeni government, the governor of Hadramawt, tribal leaders, and the leadership of the Southern Transitional Council, with the aim of defusing the crisis. The Kingdom seeks to end the military escalation, withdraw the Southern Transitional Council forces from the camps they seized in the two governorates, and hand them over to the "Homeland Shield" forces and local authorities. This is intended to ensure the return of state institutions to their functions and to transition Yemen from a phase of conflict to one of development and economic prosperity.
