Yemen’s Aden international airport has been shut after a sharp deterioration in security linked to deepening tensions between forces aligned with Saudi Arabia and those backed by the United Arab Emirates.

The suspension of operations followed clashes and heightened alert levels around key infrastructure in the southern port city, underscoring the fragility of arrangements that have held since earlier attempts to de-escalate intra-coalition disputes.

The airport closure reflects renewed rivalry between the internationally recognised government, supported primarily by Saudi Arabia, and southern factions backed by the United Arab Emirates.

Disagreements over authority, security control and the future political structure of Yemen have periodically erupted into confrontations, despite both sides opposing the Houthi movement and sharing broader strategic objectives.

Officials cited safety risks to passengers and staff as the immediate reason for halting flights, with airlines and humanitarian operators advised to suspend services until conditions stabilise.

Aden, which serves as a critical gateway for aid deliveries and commercial travel, has seen intermittent disruptions as local power struggles resurface.

The latest shutdown highlights the limits of external mediation and the challenges of managing parallel security forces within Yemen’s complex conflict.

As regional backers reassess their priorities and international mediators press for a broader political process, the interruption at Aden airport signals how unresolved rifts among nominal allies continue to complicate efforts to restore stability and normalcy in the south.