Yemen is threatening to fracture even further, exposing a growing rift between Middle East powers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Zoubaidi, others ‘escaped in the dead of night’ aboard vessel heading towards Somaliland and later took flight to Abu Dhabi, says Saudi-led coalition - Anadolu Ajansı

ADEN, Yemen -- Saudi-backed forces spread across Yemen's Mukalla on Sunday after retaking the port city which was seized by southern separatists last month. The capital of Hadramout province was retaken by Yemen’s internationally recognized government following days of Saudi airstrikes.

Hours after its leader's unexplained absence, the Southern Transitional Council said he was in Aden overseeing military and security operations. The leader of Yemen's southern separatists, Aidarous al-Zubaidi,

The Saudi-backed government in Yemen said it would send forces to reclaim territory from a group that the United Arab Emirates supports.

Turmoil in Yemen's south has exposed a major feud between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, yet their $30 billion trade ties are proving remarkably resilient.

Tensions inside Yemen have exploded after the Saudi-led coalition launched a wave of airstrikes against UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in the southern Dhale governorate.rnrnSaudi officials say the strikes were “pre-emptive,