Yemen separatists launch independence transitionAFP, MUKALLA, YemenYemen separatists on Friday announced a two-year transition to independence despite reporting 20 deaths in airstrikes from a Saudi Arabian-led coalition trying to roll back their weeks-long offensive across the country’s south. The bombardment and surprise independence bid follow weeks of tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the separatist Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) land grab. Supporters of the Southern Transitional Council hold South Yemen flags during a rally in Aden, Yemen, on Friday. He warned the group would declare independence “immediately” if there was no dialogue or if southern Yemen was attacked again. Further strikes targeted other sites in the region and the airport and military base in Seiyun, STC military sources and eyewitnesses said.

Source: Taipei Times January 03, 2026 18:00 UTC