Yemen’s civil war took a sharp turn as Saudi Arabia and the UAE clashed over control in southern Yemen. The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared the start of a "war" on Friday. They accused Saudi-backed forces of attacking their positions with air strikes. The STC launched a major offensive on December 2, capturing large areas including oil-rich Hadramawt province. This recent fighting pits Saudi Arabia and the UAE against each other, despite both supporting Yemen's government initially. The STC wants an independent southern Yemen, a move criticized by the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) as a threat to national unity. Saudi-led coalition air strikes hit STC targets, killing seven people at a military camp in Hadramawt. Tensions rose further after strikes on Mukalla port that allegedly targeted UAE equipment. The UAE denied shipping weapons and agreed to withdraw its forces after Yemen’s PLC canceled a defense treaty and ordered Emirati troops out within 24 hours. Experts say the UAE has mostly used proxies on the ground since 2019, so its troop exit may not end the conflict. Local civilians express fear and are preparing for worsening violence. Yemen faces not only a political crisis but one of the world’s worst hunger emergencies, with millions suffering amid years of conflict. STC leaders openly support southern independence, and regional powers Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain at odds over Yemen’s future. The risk of a broader war between these Gulf rivals raises serious concerns for regional stability.