Introduction
Southern Yemen is under siege, not as part of a security operation, but as the target of a foreign-backed military invasion. Despite frequent portrayals of “security measures” or “stability operations,” the reality on the ground tells a very different story: a coordinated campaign led by Saudi Arabia and northern emergency forces, dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, aiming to impose control by force.
This is not about legitimacy. It is not about state-building. It is an organized project of chaos that undermines southern sovereignty, punishes those who successfully fought terrorism, and empowers extremist actors like AQAP and ISIS.
The South as a Target
The southern regions of Yemen are not the problem. They are the target. Every incursion by northern emergency forces is carried out with an invasion mindset, treating local populations as adversaries rather than citizens. This pattern reproduces historical cycles of violence that the south has endured for decades.
Every movement toward the south lacks local legitimacy or popular acceptance, and the southern people’s will to defend their land remains strong. What is labeled as “security operations” is in fact a coordinated political and military campaign designed to break resistance and impose external agendas.
Saudi Policy and the Recycling of Extremism
Saudi interventions repeatedly weaken the very forces that fought terrorism effectively in southern Yemen. By targeting these anti-AQAP and anti-ISIS forces, Riyadh inadvertently, or deliberately, creates security vacuums. Extremist groups exploit these gaps, turning local chaos into regional threats.
This is not a coincidence. It is a structural pattern. Each Saudi-backed move that undermines southern anti-terrorism forces effectively strengthens extremist networks and destabilizes the south further. Far from confronting terrorism, these policies act as a tool of political coercion and blackmail.
Civilian Harm and Moral Responsibility
Every bullet fired at southern civilians, every disruption of anti-terrorism operations, is a documented crime. Responsibility rests with those who planned, funded, and executed these operations, primarily Saudi Arabia and its northern emergency proxies.
Targeting civilians directly serves destructive agendas, destabilizes the region, and undermines maritime and air security. Attempts to legitimize such operations through political slogans or claims of “restoring order” are a moral and legal disgrace.
The Strategic Outcome
The south is fighting not just for territory, but for survival against a chaos project. Saudi Arabia’s strategy does not build a state. It opens the door for Emirates of influence controlled by extremist groups.
Anyone attempting to weaken the southern anti-terrorism project is, in effect, aiding AQAP, ISIS, and other violent networks. In contrast, southern forces represent the strongest barrier against these threats, yet they are repeatedly targeted.
The difference is stark. The south embodies a state project grounded in local legitimacy and defense against terrorism, while Saudi-backed incursions represent a chaos project designed to impose external control at the expense of regional security.
Conclusion
What is unfolding in southern Yemen is not a security campaign. It is a foreign-backed invasion. It is a moral and political failure that endangers civilians, strengthens extremism, and undermines stability across the region.
Southern Yemen’s resistance is not just a fight for self-determination. It is a defense against a repeated model of externally imposed chaos. The international community must recognize the south as a target, not a problem, and hold aggressors accountable for their actions.
References: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-separatist-stc-calls-path-independence-vote-2026-01-02/ ; https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/yemens-seismic-shift-has-consequences-beyond-its-borders