NEW YORK, January 12, 2026 — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to hold a critical briefing and closed-door consultations this Wednesday, January 14, to address the dramatic escalation of violence in Yemen. The meeting follows a month of high-octane conflict that has effectively dismantled the southern separatist movement and pushed the nation’s humanitarian response to the verge of total collapse.
Briefers, including UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, are expected to present a grim assessment of a conflict that has recently pitted former allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against one another on the Yemeni battlefield.
The Southern Front: Secessionism Unravels
The primary focus of Wednesday’s session will be the swift and violent dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council (STC). In late 2025, the UAE-backed STC seized nearly 52% of Yemeni territory, including the strategic eastern governorates of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. However, a massive Saudi-backed counter-offensive has since reversed those gains.
- Fall of Aden: On January 7, government forces successfully entered the STC’s interim capital, Aden. By January 9, the STC announced its official dissolution following widespread territorial losses.
- Treason Charges: Former STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi was removed from the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and referred to the Public Prosecutor on charges of high treason. Reports indicate he has since fled to the UAE.
- The Riyadh Ultimatum: The escalation peaked last week when Saudi Arabia issued an ultimatum to STC leadership to attend talks in Riyadh or face direct aerial bombardment.
A Humanitarian Response “Buckling”
While the political map is being redrawn, the human cost remains catastrophic. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned this week that the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan remains only 25% funded—the lowest level in a decade.
- Health System Failure: Over 450 health facilities have faced partial or total closure since last year due to lack of funding, affecting both Houthi-controlled and government-held areas.
- Famine and Disease: Millions face acute food insecurity, exacerbated by recent floods in Marib and a resurgence of cholera across several governorates.
- Detained Personnel: The Security Council is also expected to reiterate demands for the immediate release of UN and NGO personnel currently detained by Houthi authorities in the north.
Strategic Objectives for the UNSC
Beyond the immediate briefing, the Council faces several procedural and strategic deadlines this month:
| Agenda Item | Action Required | Deadline |
| UNMHA Mandate | Vote on renewal for Hodeidah mission | January 28, 2026 |
| Resolution 2722 | Monthly report on Red Sea Houthi attacks | January 15, 2026 |
| PLC Legitimacy | Reaffirming support for unified Yemen | Ongoing |
The Council remains firmly committed to Yemen’s “unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” a stance that has significantly handicapped the STC’s quest for international recognition.
The Bottom Line: A Precarious Peace
The collapse of the STC has simplified the conflict back into a binary struggle between the Saudi-backed PLC and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. However, the intra-Gulf rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over Yemen’s future remains a volatile subtext. For the UN, the challenge is now to leverage this consolidation of government power into a revived peace roadmap before the humanitarian “breaking point” becomes irreversible.
