Saudi ambassador accuses STC chief of blocking flight, shutting airport

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Yemen has publicly accused the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) of orchestrating the closure of Aden International Airport and blocking the arrival of an official Saudi delegation. In a statement on Friday, Ambassador Mohammed Al-Jaber charged that STC chief Aidarus al-Zoubaidi issued directives that led to the airport's shutdown and then refused to grant landing permission to a Saudi aircraft.

The Ambassador's Specific Allegations

Ambassador Al-Jaber, writing on the social media platform X, stated that the airport's closure on Wednesday was followed by a direct refusal to clear a Saudi aircraft for landing on Thursday. The aircraft was carrying an official Saudi delegation scheduled to arrive in the southern port city of Aden. According to the ambassador, these actions caused the suspension of all air traffic and the cancellation of multiple civilian flights, severely disrupting one of Yemen's few remaining functional air links to the outside world.

A Warning Against a 'Dangerous Escalation'

The Saudi diplomat framed the airport closure as a provocative act with far-reaching negative consequences. He warned that "shutting down one of Yemen’s few operational airports represents a dangerous escalation." Such a move, he argued, could severely complicate ongoing political and security efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the country. Furthermore, he stated it undermines crucial coordination with regional and international partners working to resolve the Yemeni crisis.

Context of a Deepening Saudi-STC Rift

The accusation marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing dispute between Riyadh and the UAE-backed STC. Just days earlier, the STC had blamed Saudi Arabia for the airport's closure, claiming the kingdom had halted all flights. The ambassador's counter-claim directly places responsibility on the STC leadership. This public blame game highlights the severe breakdown in relations between the nominal allies, stemming from the STC's recent military seizure of eastern provinces and subsequent Saudi accusations that the UAE was threatening its border security. The crisis is being closely monitored by other regional actors, including Türkiye, which supports Yemen's unity and stability.