UAE-Backed Forces Prevent Ex-Government Meeting in Yemen
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Yemeni separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prevented a scheduled meeting between members of the ex-Yemeni government – a close Riyadh ally – in the Arab country’s southern province of Aden.
The so-called Security Belt Forces, which forms the military wing of the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), closed Al- Ma’asheek presidential palace on Sunday and prevented a meeting that was scheduled between a number of officials of the ex-government, local sources said, according to Middle East Monitor.
The source added that UAE-backed troops had refused to allow “the education minister, representatives and agents of a number of ministries to enter the presidential palace and forced them to return to where they came from.”
The source did not provide further details, while it was not possible to obtain immediate comments from the Security Belt Forces on the former Yemeni government’s statements.
The separatists have long eyed independence for southern Yemen. Prodded by the UAE, though, they had agreed to fight under the coalition’s command.
The infighting has highlighted deepening divisions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the two countries who are leading a coalition that waged a war on Yemen five years ago.
Southern Yemen was a separate country until it merged with the north in 1990.