The Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen conducted air strikes against secessionist forces in southern Yemen on Tuesday, following the failure of the separatist leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, to attend scheduled peace talks in Riyadh. The internationally recognized government of Yemen has accused al-Zubaidi of high treason.

The air strikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, adding another layer of complexity to Yemen's already multifaceted civil war. The secessionist forces, aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), have been vying for greater autonomy in the south, a region with a history of separatist movements predating Yemen's unification in 1990. The STC, backed by the United Arab Emirates, has clashed repeatedly with forces loyal to the Yemeni government, despite both nominally being part of the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi rebels in the north.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when the Houthi rebels, a Zaidi Shia Muslim group, seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen. The conflict escalated in 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the Yemeni government, which was forced to relocate to Aden. The war has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing starvation and disease.

The peace talks in Riyadh were intended to address the tensions between the Yemeni government and the STC, and to find a political solution to the southern question. Al-Zubaidi's absence from the talks is seen as a major setback to these efforts. The Saudi-led coalition has not released a statement explaining the specific targets of the air strikes or the extent of the damage.

The accusation of high treason against al-Zubaidi further complicates the political landscape. It is unclear what specific actions led to the accusation, but it underscores the deep divisions within the anti-Houthi coalition. International observers have repeatedly called for a comprehensive ceasefire and a political settlement to the conflict, warning that continued fighting will only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and further destabilize the region. The United Nations has been actively involved in mediation efforts, but progress has been slow. The current status of the conflict remains volatile, and the next developments will likely depend on the response of the STC to the air strikes and the ongoing efforts to revive the peace process.