On the evening of May 3, 2026, the southern city of Aden was shaken by a crime that revived memories of the lawlessness that followed Yemen’s war.

Southern Yemen remains unstable as Saudi Arabia manages competing local actors by containing, rather than dismantling, the STC, which still retains significant political and military influence despite dissolution efforts and emerging rivals.

Saudi Arabia’s Yemen approach depends on fragmented proxies that failed to stabilize the country, while the Islah party remains a structured but mistrusted actor whose role hinges on a shift toward real partnership.

Reappointing figures once aligned with the STC can be seen as part of Saudi Arabia’s recent policy approach, despite the potential risks and political fallout it may carry.

Since tensions between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi emerged in 2019 over Yemen, Saudi media have framed the dispute in terms of Abu Dhabi’s policies and political team, avoiding language that treats the UAE as a single, unified actor.