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.

The wave of assassinations that has swept through Yemen’s temporary capital of Aden in recent days has once again thrust the city’s file of assassinations that took place over the past years back into the spotlight, following the Houthi coup against Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

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.

In a move aimed at reshuffling the executive branch and offering a glimmer of hope to a crisis-weary public, PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi issued Republican Decree No. 3 of 2026, forming a new government headed by Shaea al-Zandani, who will also retain the foreign affairs portfolio.

Recent shifts in Yemen’s political landscape suggest the country is entering a new phase, marked above all by a distinctly Saudi-led recalibration of how the Yemen file is managed, following the retreat of the Emirati role.