Saudi military forces conducted airstrikes against a separatist faction in Yemen, a group backed by the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the deepening rift between the two Gulf powerhouses.

The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) stated on Friday that the Saudi bombing campaign was "deeply concerning," noting that the airstrikes targeted several elite forces in the Hadramawt province in central Yemen, an area bordering Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi capital, Riyadh, has not yet responded to the airstrikes.

It is noteworthy that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during a visit to the White House, had already expressed concerns to US President Donald Trump regarding the civil war in Sudan.

Some analysts speculate a connection between the two events, suggesting the UAE may be sending a specific signal to Saudi Arabia by supporting the Yemeni faction, possibly due to dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince's statements concerning the role of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudan conflict.

Currently, the UAE's role in the Sudan issue is under increasing scrutiny, with widespread accusations that it is providing weapons to the RSF, allegations which the UAE has denied.