Yemen's UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced plans for a referendum on independence within two years. This declaration follows the STC's seizure of key regions, including Hadramout province, last month. The Yemeni government, with Saudi support, has launched an operation to retake these areas. The STC's move highlights divisions within the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels, as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have diverging interests.