Honestly, if you haven’t been glued to the wires this week, you’ve missed a massive tectonic shift in the Middle East. While most of the world is looking elsewhere, the situation in Yemen just took a sharp, jagged turn. We aren’t just talking about the same old "north versus south" stalemate we've seen for a decade. This is different.
Breaking news in Yemen today centers on a high-stakes political purge in the south and a bizarre new threat from the Houthi leadership that stretches all the way across the water to Africa.
Things are moving fast.
Just hours ago, the "disappeared" separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi finally broke his silence. He basically told the Saudi-backed government—and the Saudis themselves—that he isn't going anywhere. This comes right after the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) essentially tried to delete the UAE-backed influence from the government. It’s a mess.
The Great Southern Purge: Riyadh vs. Abu Dhabi?
For the last few weeks, the southern city of Aden has been a powder keg.
The PLC, which is the internationally recognized body supposed to be running the show, just finished a "cleansing" of its own ranks. On Thursday, they officially terminated the membership of Faraj Salmeen al-Bahsani.
Why does that matter? Because Bahsani was the last major pro-UAE figure left in the council.
Basically, Saudi Arabia is done playing nice with the UAE's proxies in the south. After the Southern Transitional Council (STC) tried to grab more territory in Hadramout and Al-Mahra back in December, Riyadh pulled the plug. They used airstrikes—yes, Saudi jets hitting their "allies"—to push the STC back.
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Now, we’re seeing the political fallout.
- Aden is under a curfew (9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
- The Governor of Aden was fired and is being investigated.
- A new "Supreme Military Committee" is now running things under direct Saudi command.
It feels like a hostile takeover of the "legitimate" government by its own sponsors.
The Somaliland Wildcard: Houthis Branch Out
While the south is eating itself, the Houthis in the north are looking for new targets. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi gave a televised speech this week that sounded like something out of a techno-thriller.
He’s threatening to attack any Israeli presence in Somaliland.
Wait, what?
So, back in late 2025, Israel recognized Somaliland as a sovereign nation. Since then, the Houthis have claimed they are monitoring "Zionist activity" across the Gulf of Aden. Al-Houthi literally said, "We are serious about targeting any Israeli presence... military bases and the like."
It’s a huge escalation. Even though the Gaza ceasefire has mostly calmed the Red Sea shipping attacks, the Houthis are clearly bored or looking for a new "cause" to keep their base energized. Moving the fight to the Horn of Africa is a move nobody had on their 2026 bingo card.
Hunger Doesn't Care About Politics
We can talk about missiles and purges all day, but the ground reality for people in Sana'a and Aden is just... grim.
UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg briefed the Security Council on Wednesday, and he didn't mince words. He said the "fragile calm" is basically dead. Half of the country is facing acute food insecurity. That’s 18 million people who don't know where their next meal is coming from.
The funding has dried up. People are tired.
The health system is basically a skeleton. Because of funding cuts and the "Foreign Terrorist Organization" (FTO) designation sticking to the Houthis, many aid groups have just walked away. It’s a tragedy that’s happening in slow motion while the politicians argue about who gets to sit in which chair in Aden.
What This Actually Means for You
If you're watching the oil markets or global security, this "breaking news in Yemen today" isn't just a local squabble.
- Red Sea Stability: The Houthi threat to Somaliland means the Bab al-Mandab strait is still a "no-go" for a lot of cautious shippers. Insurance premiums aren't coming down anytime soon.
- The Saudi-UAE Rift: This is the big one. If the two biggest powers in the Arab world are openly hitting each other's proxies in Yemen, the regional alliance is in serious trouble.
- The Prisoner Exchange: There is a tiny silver lining. The government and the Houthis did agree to swap about 2,900 prisoners. It’s a "humanitarian" win, but it feels like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.
What Should You Do Next?
Don't just read the headlines. If you want to actually understand what’s happening, keep an eye on the Nation Shield Forces. These are the Saudi-trained troops that have been moving into Aden. If they clash with the STC "Security Belt" forces, we're looking at a full-scale civil war within the civil war.
Also, watch the UN's "Roadmap for Peace." It’s currently stalled, but if the Houthi-Somaliland rhetoric turns into an actual drone strike, that roadmap is going in the shredder.
Actionable Insight: If you are involved in global logistics or regional investment, treat the "southern calm" as a myth. The consolidation of power in Riyadh's hands might bring stability, or it might trigger a massive backlash from southern separatists who feel betrayed.
The situation is fluid. One day it's a ceasefire, the next it's a "high treason" charge for a Vice President. Stay skeptical of anyone telling you they have the "ultimate" solution for Yemen—there isn't one yet.