The Saudi Royal Family issued a warning to South Yemen separatists on Thursday, who have so far seized several key parts of the South Yemen, stating that any attempt to destabilise Yemen constitute a threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In its opening response to the crisis threatening to split Yemen into two, the Saudi Royals have demanded separatists return seized military and civilian facilities to the Saudi-backed government.
The Royal Family’s statement read: “The kingdom stresses that any attempt to destabilise Yemen is a threat to its security and stability … and will be dealt with firmly,”.
“It also affirms its … position that there is no alternative to the legitimate government in Yemen and that it does not accept any attempts to create a new reality in Yemen by using force or the threat of force.”
Fighting between Saudi forces and the UAE backed Yemen separatists escalated last month, creating a new front in Yemen’s burgeoning and seemingly intractable war.
The conflicts between the Saudi backed forces and the seperatists – who previously fought on the same side against the Houthi Rebels – have sparked fears that Yemen may break apart entirely.
Yemen’s government on Wednesday dismissed the possibility of talking with the separatists, saying it will talk only with their main backer, the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE has trained and funded the separatists who seek an independent southern Yemen, despite previously being part of the Saudi-led military coalition fighting against the Iran backed Houthi rebels.
The conflict has ballooned into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, creating famine across Yemen and leading to an estimated 100+ thousand civilian deaths.
