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 had previously been allies in the country's civil war. The clashes followed offensives launched by the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) in eastern Yemen, prompting Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry to call for a "dialogue" in Riyadh between Yemen's southern factions.

The fracturing of the Saudi-UAE alliance stems from their support for different rival groups within Yemen, where both countries have intervened on behalf of the internationally recognized government in its conflict with the Houthi rebels. The STC, backed by the UAE, is now pushing for the independence of a breakaway state in southern Yemen.

On Friday, the UAE-backed forces declared that a "war" had begun, accusing Saudi-backed ground forces of launching an attack alongside air strikes by the Saudi air force. The Saudi ministry responded by urging "a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to bring together all southern factions to discuss just solutions to the southern cause," according to a statement released on social media. Riyadh added that the Yemeni government had approved the initiative.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee. The conflict has evolved into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, exacerbating regional tensions and contributing to a humanitarian crisis.

The Saudi-led coalition, which includes the UAE, intervened in 2015 with the stated aim of restoring the Yemeni government. However, the coalition's military campaign has been widely criticized for causing civilian casualties and exacerbating the country's already dire humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have died as a result of the conflict, both from direct violence and indirect causes such as disease and starvation.

The emergence of the STC as a powerful force in southern Yemen has further complicated the conflict. The STC seeks to revive the independent state of South Yemen, which existed until unification with the north in 1990. The group's ambitions clash with the interests of the internationally recognized government, which seeks to maintain a unified Yemen.

The proposed dialogue in Riyadh represents an attempt by Saudi Arabia to mediate between the various southern factions and prevent further escalation of the conflict. However, it remains to be seen whether all parties will be willing to participate and whether a lasting solution can be found. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has had a devastating impact on the country and its people, and a comprehensive political settlement is urgently needed to end the violence and address the underlying causes of the conflict.