Forces backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates clashed in Yemen last month, marking an unprecedented direct confrontation between the two Gulf powers who have been nominal allies in the country's civil war. The clashes followed offensives launched by the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), a group backed by the UAE, in eastern Yemen. On Friday, the STC declared that a "war" had begun, accusing Saudi-backed ground forces of launching an attack alongside air strikes by the Saudi air force.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry has called for Yemen's southern factions to attend a "dialogue" in Riyadh in response to the escalating conflict. In a statement posted to social media, the Saudi ministry urged "a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to bring together all southern factions to discuss just solutions to the southern cause." Riyadh stated that the Yemeni government had issued their approval for the proposed talks.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have intervened in Yemen's long-running civil war on behalf of the internationally recognized government, led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. However, the alliance has fractured, with the two Gulf states now backing different rival groups on the ground. The STC, which seeks independence for southern Yemen, is now pushing to declare a breakaway state.

The conflict in Yemen has its roots in the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, which led to the ousting of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh. A power vacuum ensued, and the Houthi movement, a Zaidi Shia Muslim group, seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014. This prompted a military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition in 2015, aimed at restoring Hadi's government.

The UAE has trained and equipped the STC, viewing them as a bulwark against the Houthis and Islamist groups. Saudi Arabia, while also opposed to the Houthis, has maintained closer ties with the Hadi government. The current clashes highlight the diverging interests of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen, and the complex web of alliances and rivalries that characterize the conflict.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Yemen, describing it as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions, and left the country on the brink of famine. The fragmentation of the anti-Houthi coalition further complicates efforts to resolve the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.

The proposed talks in Riyadh represent an attempt by Saudi Arabia to de-escalate the situation and find a political solution to the southern question. However, it remains to be seen whether all southern factions will participate and whether a lasting agreement can be reached. The outcome of the talks will likely have significant implications for the future of Yemen and the broader region.