UAE vows shocking retaliation against Saudi Arabia

ABU DHABI, Jan. 08 (YPA) – Close associates of the Emirati regime on Wednesday vowed “shocking surprises” in the coming hours in response to what they described as “Saudi treachery” targeting Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC)  and UAE-backed armed factions.

The head of the UAE’s Center for Political Studies in Abu Dhabi, Khalid al-Shamiri, issued sharp criticism of Riyadh via the X platform, describing Saudi Arabia as “an arrogant state.”

Al-Shamiri addressed Saudi leaders and their allies in Riyadh, saying: “A surprise will shock you in the coming hours. You have betrayed the men,” adding that those who build their policies on illusions will collide with reality, and that Al-Zubaidi will “shuffle the cards in his own way.”

He incited residents of the southern governorates to act against current Saudi policies, citing a proverb saying: “Hit them before they hit you.”

Al-Shamiri explicitly accused Riyadh of attempting to assassinate Al-Zubaidi on Tuesday evening via a drone strike targeting his location at Ma’ashiq Palace in Aden, noting that another assassination attempt targeted him in his hometown in the Zubid area of Dhalea province.

He described the “Southern-Southern Dialogue” called by Saudi Arabia as nothing but a “well-laid trap for the southern forces,” adding that Saudi authorities had arrested nearly 61 participants upon arrival at Riyadh Airport, including prominent STC leaders and social figures, after summoning them by name.

According to Al-Shamiri, Al-Zubaidi was the “only survivor” of what he described as a “trap,” after missing his scheduled travel at the last minute. According to him, this prompted Riyadh to attempt to assassinate Al-Zubaidi through airstrikes, followed by what he called a “weak statement” justifying the move and stripping him of his membership in the Presidential Leadership Council.

@E.Y.M