The Southern Yemen clashes were a series of clashes in the city of Aden between the pro-Hadi government troops backed by

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries by area, fifth-largest country in Asia ...

and

Southern Transitional Council The Southern Transitional Council (STC; ''al-Majlis al-Intiqālī l-Janūbiyy'') is a secessionist organization in South Yemen. The 26 members of the STC include the governors of five southern governorates and two government ministers. It was f ...

forces backed by the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at ...

. The Southern Transitional Council took control of Aden and

Zinjibar Zinjibar ( ar, زِنْجِبَار ''Zinjibār'') is a port and coastal town in south-central Yemen, the capital of Zinjibar District and the Abyan Governorate. It is located next to the Wadi Bana in the Abyan Delta. From 1962 to 1967, it was ...

Clashes

Battle in Aden

Clashes erupted on 7 August 2019 between the STC and pro-Hadi forces in Aden after a missile strike by

Houthis The Houthi movement (; ar, ٱلْحُوثِيُّون ''al-Ḥūthīyūn'' ), officially called Ansar Allah (' ''Partisans of God'' or ''Supporters of God'') and colloquially simply Houthis, is an Islamist political and armed movement that ...

killed several soldiers of the

Security Belt The Security Belt Forces (Arabic: قوات الحزام الأمني) is a paramilitary force based in Southern Yemen and forms the elite military wing of the Southern Transitional Council. The force operates in the governorates of Aden, Lahij ...

forces in the city during a military graduation. The soldiers killed included Brig. Gen. Munir Mahmoud Ahmad al-Mashali al-Yafaei, more commonly known as Abu Yamamah al-Yafaei, a leading figure and commander in the Security Belt. The southerners accused the Hadi-led government, as well as Al-Islah party members who are part of the Hadi-led government but harbor deep resentment with the STC, for enabling the attack. The STC released a statement calling the attack "treacherous". The next day, three people were killed and ten were injured in clashes between the pro-Hadi presidential guard based in Aden and southern separatists on 8 August 2019 following the funeral for the victims killed in the Houthi attack. STC took control of Aden's Crater District on 9 August 2019. The STC captured the Badr Camp and the presidential palace on 10 August and a total of 20 people were killed. The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against the STC on the same day.

Ceasefire

Clashes ceased briefly on 11 August 2019 following a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince

Mohammed bin Salman Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud ( ar, محمد بن سلمان آل سعود, translit=Muḥammad bin Salmān Āl Su‘ūd; born 31 August 1985), colloquially known by his initials MBS or MbS, is Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. ...

and the

. The STC agreed to withdraw from several checkpoints it had captured during the clashes and the UAE denied supporting the STC's clashes against the Saudi-led coalition. The STC vacated some positions in Aden on 17 August 2019.

Continued clashes

Clashes continued with lower intensity in Aden on 16 August 2019 after STC forces refused to withdraw from some of their captured positions. On 21 August, the UAE rejected allegations that it was behind the developments in Aden. On 28 August 2019, Hadi-led forces recaptured most of the neighborhoods they had lost to the STC, including Aden's International Airport. By the next day, however, STC forces recaptured most of Aden again. The Hadi-led government accused the UAE of launching airstrikes against its troops, killing at least 30 troops.

Clashes elsewhere in Yemen

Clashes between the STC and Hadi forces erupted in

Shabwah Governorate Shabwah ( ar, شَبْوَة, Šabwa) is a Governorates of Yemen, governorate (province) of Yemen. Its main town is Ataq. During the Yemeni Civil War (2015–present), Yemeni Civil War in 2015, the province became a battleground. The battle, kno ...

on 22 August 2019 after STC forces refused to withdraw from al-Akaf checkpoint. There were dead and wounded in the clashes which included heavy weapons. The Hadi government accused the command of the STC for blowing up the situation in Shabwah. Clashes occurred in

Abyan Governorate Abyan ( ar, أَبْيَن ) is a governorate of Yemen. The Abyan region was historically part of the Fadhli Sultanate. It was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army militant group. Its capital is the city of Zinjibar. This governorate is ...

on 20 August 2019 after STC forces took control of a camp in Az Zanjabar; several were killed in the clashes.

References