• Saudi Arabia invites southern factions in Yemen to a dialogue in Riyadh amid ongoing violence.
• The call follows a request from Yemen's president for solutions to southern grievances.
• The Southern Transitional Council (STC) has escalated its push for independence amidst military operations.
• Airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition recently resulted in casualties, further complicating the situation.
• The UAE has been accused of supporting the STC, adding tension between Gulf nations.

On January 3, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry issued an invitation for Yemen's southern factions to participate in a "dialogue" in Riyadh, responding to escalating violence and calls for independence by the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The Saudi ministry emphasized the need for a comprehensive conference, stating it aims to bring together all factions to discuss "just solutions" for the southern issue, as recent airstrikes left at least 20 dead, heightening regional tensions, according to Le Monde, Anadolu Agency, and Al Jazeera.

The Saudi invitation aligns with a prior request from Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). The foreign ministry underscored that it is crucial for all southern factions to "actively" engage in the conference to address what it calls a "just cause" with historical and social dimensions. Alimi's appeal reflects the increasing urgency to find equitable solutions to the southern grievances, exacerbated by recent territorial gains by the STC, which has taken control of parts of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra provinces, as reported by Anadolu Agency and Al Jazeera.

The STC has escalated its campaign for secession, claiming that the Yemeni government has historically marginalized the southern regions. This has raised alarms in Saudi Arabia, which fears the fragmentation of Yemen could threaten its national security. On the same day as the Saudi call for dialogue, the UAE denied accusations of intensifying conflict by supporting STC military operations, a claim that further complicates alliances in the already fractured region. In light of these tensions, the UAE stressed its commitment to supporting Saudi security, according to Le Monde, Anadolu Agency, and Al Jazeera.