Overview
- Hadramawt governor Salem al-Khanbashi announced a “peaceful” operation to take over military sites from the STC and was assigned overall command of National Shield forces in the province.
- Air traffic at Aden International Airport was halted after a dispute over new inspections on Aden–UAE routes, with the STC-aligned transport ministry accusing Saudi Arabia and Saudi and government sources saying the rule was limited and the shutdown was ordered locally.
- Saudi ambassador Mohammed Al-Jaber said STC chief Aidarus Al-Zubaidi refused landing permission for a Saudi delegation and ordered the airport closure, an account the STC has not confirmed.
- The STC says it will stay in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra while allowing the deployment and integration of National Shield units, a move Saudi sources say falls short of withdrawal demands.
- The crisis deepened after a Saudi-led coalition strike on what it called a UAE-linked weapons shipment in Mukalla, a claim the UAE denied before announcing the pullout of its remaining troops from Yemen.