Aden Airport Shuts Amid Deepening Saudi-UAE Rift in Yemen

• Yemen's Aden International Airport halted flights due to a deepening crisis between Gulf powers Saudi Arabia and the UAE, reshaping war-torn Yemen.
• The closure stems from a dispute over flight restrictions, with contradictory accounts on who is responsible for the shutdown.
• Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's internationally recognized government, while the UAE backs the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which controls the transport ministry.
• The STC-controlled ministry accused Saudi Arabia of an air blockade, while a Saudi source claimed Yemen's government imposed restrictions on UAE flights, leading to the full shutdown by the STC-controlled ministry.
• The crisis highlights a deep rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Saudi accusing UAE of pressuring STC towards its borders, and UAE pulling forces from Yemen.

Why It Matters: Aden airport closure exposes severe Saudi-UAE rift, further destabilizing war-torn Yemen.