Saudi Arabia Imposes Flight Inspections for Aden-UAE Routes, Raising Tensions in Yemen
Yemeni transport ministry says Saudi Arabia mandated inspections of flights between Aden and UAE
A new development in the ongoing conflict in Yemen has raised tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Yemen's transport ministry, aligned with Emirati-backed southern separatist authorities, announced on Thursday that Saudi Arabia has mandated inspections of flights between Aden International Airport and the UAE. The inspections, which are set to take place in Jeddah, have been met with shock and criticism from the ministry, which has denounced the move as 'sudden procedures.' According to the ministry, the restriction applies only to flights between Aden and the UAE, but the reasons behind the measures remain unclear.
The move comes amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have been competing over economic and regional issues. Last month, the Southern Transitional Council, backed by the UAE, moved into Yemen's governorates of Hadramout and Mahra, seizing an oil-rich region and pushing out forces supported by the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces. The move has sparked calls for diplomacy in Yemen, with the United States urging restraint and the Saudi-led coalition demanding the withdrawal of the STC forces from the two governorates.
In a related development, UAE-backed forces have begun to withdraw from the al-Rayyan base in Mukalla city, the capital of Hadramout. The base, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, has been used by the UAE to combat terrorism. However, the situation remains uncertain, with Council forces present inside and around the airport, waiting for the UAE-backed forces to complete their withdrawal.
The Yemeni transport ministry has called for an end to the air blockade imposed on the country and a reversal of the new measures, which it sees as an attempt to strangle the economy and undermine the internationally recognized government. The move has further strained ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have been at odds over regional politics and economic interests.
