The head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen, Aidarous al-ZubaidiThe Saudi-led military coalition said Wednesday that Zubaidi had fled to an unknown destination. According to the coalition, he did not board a plane scheduled to take him to Riyadh, despite a significant flight delay, and no information was available regarding his whereabouts.
This announcement comes amid heightened tensions between the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia. Clashes between these two sides last month in the south of the country have reignited divisions within the Gulf coalition engaged in Yemen.
In a statement, the coalition spokesperson, Turki al-MalikiIt was reported that the flight was carrying numerous leaders of the separatist movement but that it took off without Zubaidi, after a delay of more than three hours. During this time, reports emerged of the movement of significant forces and calls for mobilization, including the arming of factions with light and medium weapons.
The coalition also announced it had conducted limited preemptive airstrikes in the southern province of al-Dhalea, Zubaidi's political stronghold, after observing troop movements leaving their camps. Local sources and members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) reported more than fifteen strikes in the region.
In response, the Riyadh-backed Yemeni presidential council dismissed Zubaidi from his post and referred him to the public prosecutor. According to the official SABA news agency, he is accused of high treason, inciting armed rebellion, attacking constitutional authorities, and committing atrocities against civilians in the south of the country.
These developments illustrate the worsening internal rivalries within the anti-Houthi camp, as the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels remain the dominant military force in Yemen and have controlled the capital, Sanaa, since 2014. The rift between regional allies further complicates any prospect of lasting stabilization of the country.
