Saudi Arabia intervened militarily in southern Yemen to halt what it described as a threat to its national security, leading to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group that had controlled the region for nearly a decade, losing control of its territory. The STC subsequently announced its dissolution in a statement issued in Riyadh earlier this week.

Saudi Arabia is now planning to host a conference in Riyadh bringing together the main political factions in Yemen to discuss and shape the future of the southern region. The move follows years of civil strife and division in Yemen, where the STC had emerged as a dominant force in the south.

The intervention and planned dialogue highlight Saudi Arabia's long-term goals in Yemen, a country strategically important due to its location on the Arabian Peninsula and its proximity to vital shipping lanes. Yemen's instability has broader implications for regional security, impacting international trade and potentially creating space for extremist groups to operate.

Khaled Batarfi, a political analyst, and Farea Al Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa program, are among those closely watching the developments. The outcome of the planned conference will be crucial in determining the future political landscape of southern Yemen and the extent to which Saudi Arabia can achieve its objectives in the war-torn nation.

The dissolution of the STC, while announced in Riyadh, has been met with skepticism by some observers. The group's actual disbanding and the extent of its influence in the south remain to be seen. The upcoming conference will be a key test of Saudi Arabia's ability to mediate between the various Yemeni factions and establish a stable and sustainable political order in the south.