The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced on Wednesday that the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, fled to an unknown location and did not board the flight scheduled to Riyadh.
اضافة اعلان
Al-Zubaidi was expected to travel to Saudi Arabia days after the internationally recognized Yemeni government requested Riyadh to host a forum to discuss the southern issue—a move seen as a potential step toward easing the fighting.
Meanwhile, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi issued a decree on Wednesday dismissing Al-Zubaidi from the council and referring him to the public prosecutor, accusing him of “high treason.” The decree suspended Al-Zubaidi from his duties and tasked the prosecutor with investigating the incident and acting according to applicable laws, while affirming the commitment to the sovereignty of the Republic and the safety of citizens.
Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki stated that on January 4, 2026, Al-Zubaidi was notified by the coalition command to come to Saudi Arabia within 48 hours to meet with Presidential Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi and coalition leaders to discuss the reasons behind the escalation and attacks by STC forces on Hadramout and Al-Mahrah governorates.
Al-Maliki added that the STC leadership had expressed on January 5 its support for Saudi efforts to organize a comprehensive southern conference and confirmed its intention to actively participate. Al-Zubaidi informed Saudi authorities of his desire to attend on January 6 and headed to the airport. The Yemeni Airlines flight IYE 532, scheduled for 22:10, was delayed by over three hours.
During this time, coalition and legitimate government sources reported that Al-Zubaidi mobilized large forces, including armored vehicles, combat vehicles, light and heavy weapons, and ammunition, from the Hadid and Al-Salban camps toward Al-Dhalea around midnight. The flight eventually departed carrying many STC leaders, but without Al-Zubaidi, who escaped to an unknown location. He reportedly distributed weapons and ammunition to dozens of fighters in Aden under the command of Moamen Al-Saqqaf and Mukhtar Al-Noubi to create instability in the city.
Al-Maliki confirmed that coalition and Homeland Shield forces requested the Vice President of the Presidential Council, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami Abu Zar’a, to maintain security, prevent clashes in Aden, protect civilians and property, and cooperate with Homeland Shield forces. Coalition forces tracked the mobilized troops, who were found near the Al-Zind camp in Al-Dhalea. Early Wednesday at 04:00, coalition forces, in coordination with Yemeni government and Homeland Shield forces, carried out limited preemptive strikes to neutralize the forces and prevent Al-Zubaidi’s plan from escalating the conflict in Al-Dhalea.
The coalition emphasized its cooperation with the Yemeni government and local authorities in Aden to support security, confront any military forces targeting cities and civilians, and urged residents to stay away from camps and military gatherings in Aden and Al-Dhalea for their safety, while providing authorities with any information about suspicious military movements.
(Agencies)
