January 19, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — In a striking escalation of the political and military tensions surrounding the protracted conflict in Yemen, Salam Al-Khanbashi, governor of Hadhramaut province, publicly accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of exploiting the legitimacy of the Saudi-led coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen for its own agenda, alleging involvement in armed group activities, property destruction, kidnappings and other violent crimes. These assertions deepen fissures among key Gulf partners engaged in Yemen’s unresolved war.
Addressing journalists on January 19, Khanbashi said the UAE had supported armed factions loyal to Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, a southern separatist leader, and used them as instruments of control that deviated from the coalition’s declared mission of restoring Yemen’s internationally recognised government. According to the governor, these groups carried out acts of robbery, kidnapping, murder, displacement, and destruction of state property, inflicting serious harm on local communities in Hadhramaut and undermining the province’s stability.
Khanbashi’s allegations came amid widespread frustration among some Yemeni authorities over perceived UAE influence in the south particularly in areas where the UAE has historically maintained strategic footholds, including the port city of Mukalla and other coastal regions. The governor claimed that materials discovered at the Rayyan base in Mukalla including wires, explosives, detonators, and communication devices were inconsistent with regular military or humanitarian support and instead pointed to activities aimed at planning and executing violent offenses against civilians.
The governor further accused Emirati forces of running secret detention centres in Mukalla, where arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture were reportedly carried out outside legal oversight. He also suggested that efforts to move Al-Zubaidi through Somalia to Abu Dhabi were part of an attempt to shield him from legal accountability for alleged crimes committed in Yemen.
Khanbashi vowed that Yemeni authorities would pursue legal action against Al-Zubaidi and others implicated, insisting that such measures are necessary to protect civilians and uphold security and law in Hadhramaut. He framed the province’s trajectory as one of “increasing liberation from oppression and domination,” signalling a hardening stance against both separatist forces and their external backers.
The public denunciation underscores broader geopolitical tensions within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Saudi-UAE relationship particularly over Yemen’s future political configuration and the role of foreign powers in shaping outcomes. Analysts say that differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over strategies in Yemen have widened in recent months, with Riyadh advocating for stronger support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the UAE focused on strengthening southern autonomy forces.
Observers note that the conflict in Yemen remains one of the world’s deepest humanitarian crises, with millions in need of assistance and essential services under strain. UN agencies have warned that the situation could worsen further in 2026 amid funding shortfalls and ongoing political fragmentation.
While UAE officials have not issued an immediate response to the governor’s comments, regional diplomatic sources suggest that Abu Dhabi may reject allegations of supporting destabilising activities, framing its involvement in Yemen as part of counterterrorism efforts and broader regional security objectives. Independent verification of the claims is limited due to the fluid conflict environment and restricted access for international observers.
Khanbashi’s remarks are likely to fuel fresh debate in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and among Yemeni stakeholders about the direction of military aid, coalition legitimacy, and the prospects for peace negotiations issues that remain central to any lasting resolution of Yemen’s decade-long war.