Southern Yemen Separatists Vow to Fight On After Saudi-Linked Air Strikes

Separatist forces in southern Yemen say they will continue their push for independence. This comes after air strikes hit their positions. The strikes are widely blamed on neighboring Saudi Arabia. The separatists are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They seek to restore the independent state that existed in South Yemen until 1990. The reported air strikes mark a sharp escalation in tensions. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are both part of a coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen's civil war. However, the coalition is now fractured over the separatists' goals. The separatist statement suggests the group will not retreat. This sets the stage for further conflict within Yemen's complex war.