Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Yemen stated that the leader of the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, blocked a Saudi delegation's landing in Aden. The ambassador accused Zubaidi of continuous rejection and stubbornness, citing directives to close Aden airport to a Saudi plane seeking crisis solutions. The STC-controlled transport ministry countered, accusing Saudi Arabia of imposing an air blockade requiring flights to undergo extra checks via Saudi Arabia. The UAE backs the STC, which recently seized southern Yemen from the Saudi-backed government.