Infighting Erupts Again Among UAE-Backed Militias in Yemen
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, clashes have resumed between Emirati mercenaries in Yemen. Continuing internal conflicts and purges within the so-called “Southern Transitional Council,” UAE-affiliated militias targeted military and security commanders from Abyan province in Aden on Thursday.
Local sources reported that forces aligned with the Transitional Council raided the home of “Abu Aisha al-Ja’ari,” former commander of the middle region within the Security Belt forces in the Al-Mamdara area, arresting him and transferring him to an undisclosed location.
The armed elements of the Transitional Council also reportedly stormed the residence of “Abu al-Zubair al-Ja’ari,” a commander of the Third Brigade of “Support and Assistance” and commander of the rapid response battalion, destroying property and spreading terror among the residents.
These actions coincide with a large-scale military operation launched by the Transitional Council to control Abyan province, aiming to eliminate military and tribal figures with social support in the eastern provinces. This aims to consolidate the influence of leaders from Al-Dhale province, led by Aidarus al-Zubaidi, within the council’s structure.
The “Southern Transitional Council,” formed with direct support from the UAE in southern Yemen, has repeatedly witnessed internal conflicts and purges over influence, financial resources, and control of strategic areas in recent years.
These disputes have particularly intensified between commanders from Abyan and Shabwa provinces and those aligned with Al-Dhale province, leading to arrests, assassinations, and eliminations of military figures.
Observers view the escalating clashes as a sign of the fragility of the UAE’s mercenary structure and the failure of Abu Dhabi’s project to create a unified force in southern Yemen.
Experts believe that the intensified internal conflicts among UAE mercenaries stem from a hidden competition between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh for influence in southern Yemen, where Saudi Arabia supports certain factions and tribes opposed to the Transitional Council.
This rivalry has led the UAE to resort to internal purges to eliminate figures close to Saudi Arabia and solidify its complete control over Aden and the southern provinces.
