Local Editor
The Emirati-backed separatist movement in Yemen, the Southern Transitionary Council (STC), warned on Friday that tensions with the Saudi-backed resigned regime are rising to the point where a war between the two sides is "imminent".
In a statement, the STC said it had informed the ambassadors of major countries to Yemen as well at the UN envoy Martin Griffiths that: "The outbreak of war is imminent" after "violations” by the regime that have prevented a "sustainable political agreement" between the two sides.
The STC accused the resigned regime of Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi of attempting to regain control of southern governorates in violation of the ceasefire agreed in November.
The southern governorate of Abyan has witnessed unprecedented nescalations in recent days, after the separatists sent hundreds of troops to the area in what it says was to "strengthen its sovereignty" against the government.
The STC also accuses the regime of trying to regain control over Aden, which was seized by the secessionists in August in a brutal battle.
The Riyadh Agreement power-sharing deal agreed in November was designed to unify Saudi-backed regime and UAE-backed separatist forces, but since March, frequent clashes have signaled the agreement is faltering.
Another source of tension has been the geostrategic Socotra island, where UAE-backed militias have clashes with regime forces.
UAE's involvement in Yemen, consisting of backing a wide range of southern separatist forces, is seen as an attempt to consolidate its influence over the Red Sea.
Meanwhile ceasefire negotiations between the government and the Houthi rebels is nearing completion despite continuing military activities on several fronts, Martin Griffiths said on Friday.
"We are redoubling our efforts to bridge the outstanding differences between the parties," he said, adding that he feared fighting would continue on the ground until agreement was reached on the proposals.
The city of Marib, east of the capital of Sanaa, he said "remains the center of gravity of this war".
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
