Yemen clashes bring Saudi and UAE-backed forces into confrontation

It comes after clashes and an independence bid in southern Yemen bring Saudi and UAE-backed forces into confrontation.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationWatch DocumentariesTechnologyScienceArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindHealthCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveSaudi Arabia calls for Yemeni factions to attend 'dialogue' in Riyadh10 hours agoShareSaveEmir Nader,in Jerusalem,andSuaad Al Salahi,in YemenShareSaveReutersThe separatist Southern Transitional Council's forces launched offensives in eastern Yemen last monthSaudi Arabia's foreign ministry has called for Yemen's southern factions to attend a "dialogue" in Riyadh, after a dramatic turn of events in the south brought Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates into unprecedented direct confrontation.

Both Gulf powers have intervened on behalf of Yemen's internationally recognised government in the country's long-running civil war, but a fracturing of the alliance has seen them backing different rival groups on the ground.

One of the groups is now pushing to declare the independence of a breakaway state in southern Yemen.

On Friday, the UAE-backed force declared that a "war" had begun, accusing Saudi-backed ground forces of launching an attack alongside air strikes by the Saudi air force.

The Saudi ministry urged "a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to bring together all southern factions to discuss just solutions to the southern cause" in a statement on social media. Riyadh said the Yemeni government had issued the invitation for talks.