"Limited," but reportedly deadly airstrikes were carried out on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia said, to prevent the separatist STC from expanding the ongoing conflict.
According to Saudi Arabia, STC leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi, who was expected to travel to Riyadh for talks on Yemen's future, has fled to an unknown location. However, the STC says he remains in the city of Aden.
Saudi Arabia has carried out several strikes since separatist forces took control of large parts of Yemen's northeastern province of Hadramaut last month.
During the more than ten-year civil war, the STC has at times collaborated with Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthi movement. The STC has advocated dividing the country into two parts, as was also the case from 1967 to 1990.
Until recently, the situation was effectively three different Yemens: the western part with the capital Sanaa held by the Houthis; southern Yemen with Aden controlled by the STC; and the northeastern provinces under government control.
The fact that the balance of power is now shifting has major political consequences, as all parties have powerful allies - the Houthis are supported by Iran, the government by Saudi Arabia, and the STC by the United Arab Emirates.
