Concern is growing over Yemen's potential partition as rival authorities tighten their grip on separate regions. The Southern Transitional Council has expanded its control in the south, while Houthi forces remain entrenched in the north, raising fears that the country's decade-long conflict may fracture into competing statelets rather than move toward reconciliation.

Recent unilateral military actions by the Southern Transitional Council in Hadramout and Al-Mahra have alarmed Yemen's government, Saudi Arabia, and the United Nations, who warn that these moves threaten internal stability, undermine regional security, and complicate international efforts to protect vital maritime corridors. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have intervened to mediate, urging the Southern Transitional Council to withdraw and restore previous positions.

Analysts caution that the Southern Transitional Council's rapid expansion risks provoking rival factions and deepening instability, especially in oil-rich southern regions. There are concerns that Yemen's fate will be shaped by external actors, particularly Saudi Arabia, and that partition could lead to renewed conflict and competition over resources. While a recent prisoner exchange between the Houthis and the Yemeni government offers a rare sign of de-escalation, the overall situation remains highly volatile, with international attention focused on the region due to ongoing attacks in the Red Sea.