The Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Saeed Al Jaber, revealed on Friday that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), prevented a Saudi delegation’s plane from landing in Aden in early January.

In a post published on X, Al Jaber stated that Al-Zubaidi had issued direct instructions to close air traffic at Aden International Airport, obstructing the arrival of the Saudi delegation. He added that Riyadh had spent weeks attempting to de-escalate tensions with the STC, only to face “continued rejection and intransigence” from its leadership.

The airport shutdown has become a flashpoint in the widening rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over southern Yemen. The Saudi-backed directive to restrict flights to the UAE reportedly aimed to limit logistical and military support reaching the STC.