ADEN, October 18, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have reached a new cooperation agreement to resume joint military efforts against Houthi forces in Yemen. The deal includes a commitment from the UAE to restart funding for southern government forces, while Saudi Arabia will provide air cover for those units, according to sources in Yemen.
A Shift in Gulf Strategy
This agreement marks the first tangible sign that the deep rift between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh regarding the future of Yemen is beginning to heal. The two Gulf powers had previously drifted apart, culminating in the UAE’s decision to cease all operations and funding within Yemen in January. The reconciliation appears driven by the recent military momentum of the Iran-aligned Houthis, whose advances across the country have alarmed Gulf leaders.
The UAE’s withdrawal earlier this year had left a significant void in the anti-Houthi coalition. By resuming payments to southern forces, the UAE aims to revitalize the military effectiveness of groups like the Giant Brigades, which are considered among the most capable units fighting against the Houthis. This move serves to stabilize a fractured coalition that has struggled to maintain a unified front against the ongoing Houthi insurgency.
Escalating Violence in Aden
The urgency of the new pact is underscored by a recent surge in Houthi attacks targeting the seat of the UN-recognized government in Aden. On October 15, a Houthi strike on a presidential palace in Aden resulted in at least five deaths and left 16 people injured. The following day, two missiles fired by Houthi forces struck the Aden airport, landing roughly 500 metres from a Yemenia Airways passenger plane as it prepared for takeoff.
Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani confirmed the missiles landed approximately 100 metres from the midpoint of the runway. While no casualties were reported in the airport attack, the strikes highlight the vulnerability of the government’s remaining strongholds. These events follow a broader pattern of Houthi aggression that has seen the group target energy infrastructure and airports within Saudi Arabia, including recent strikes on King Khalid International Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
Military Challenges and Territorial Goals
Houthi forces remain focused on capturing Taiz and Marib, the two major cities currently outside the boundaries of the former Southern Yemen. The UN-recognized government recently launched a counteroffensive intended to drive Houthi forces from the capital, Sana’a, but the military drive has so far achieved only limited success. Operations near Majzar and the Bab al-Mandab strait have failed to significantly alter the front lines.
The military situation remains complicated by the political aspirations of southern separatists. The Southern Transition Council has demanded a referendum on secession to restore the 1967-1990 borders, a move that would effectively split the country into two states. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE has responded to these demands for a referendum.
The Unresolved Question of Secession
Tensions regarding the political future of the south remain a point of friction. Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of the Southern Transition Council, fled to Abu Dhabi in January following a failed attempt to consolidate control across the south and announce a timeline for separation. In the aftermath of that attempt, Saudi Arabia bombed UAE arms shipments intended for separatist forces, leading to the UAE’s subsequent exit from the conflict.
While the new agreement focuses on military coordination, it does not explicitly address the political restrictions placed on southern troops. Currently, these forces have not agreed to fight outside the borders of the old Southern Yemen. However, observers note that an explicit endorsement of a referendum by Saudi Arabia could potentially lead to the lifting of those geographic restrictions. For now, the focus of the renewed partnership remains the immediate containment of Houthi advances.
Sources
- UAE agrees with Saudi Arabia to re-enter Yemen conflict amid Houthi gains
- Iran calls U.S. response "insufficient" amid stalled talks to end the war
- UAE agrees with Saudi Arabia to re-enter Yemen conflict amid Houthi gains
Photo: Jialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org (CC BY-SA 3.0)
