Yemen Coalition Spokesperson: Aidrous Al-Zubaidi Has Fled, STC Denies Claims
A dramatic series of accusations and denials has plunged Yemen’s complex political landscape into fresh uncertainty. The official spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Malki, has announced that Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, head of the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC), has fled to an unknown location, abandoning his delegation and stoking fears of new violence.
According to the Coalition’s detailed account, the crisis began with an invitation. On January 4th, Al-Zubaidi was instructed to travel to Saudi Arabia within 48 hours to meet with Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) President Rashad Al-Alimi and Coalition commanders. The purpose: to address escalating attacks by STC-affiliated forces on the governorates of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra.
The STC initially agreed, expressing appreciation for Saudi mediation efforts toward a comprehensive Southern conference. Al-Zubaidi confirmed his delegation would travel on January 6th. However, at Aden airport, the departure of their flight was delayed for over three hours. During this window, the Coalition says it received intelligence that Al-Zubaidi had mobilized a significant armored force from camps in Aden toward Al-Dhale’ governorate.
The flight was eventually cleared to depart, carrying many STC leaders—but without Al-Zubaidi. The Coalition alleges he had already fled, after first distributing weapons within Aden to figures like Mu’min Al-Saqqaf and Mukhtar Al-Nubi “with the aim of creating unrest.” This prompted urgent coordination between the National Shield Forces, the Coalition, and PLC Vice President Abdul Rahman Al-Mahrami to secure Aden and prevent clashes.
The Coalition reports that at 4 a.m., after tracking the mobilized units to a building near Al-Dhale’, it launched limited preemptive strikes in coordination with government forces to “disrupt these forces and thwart Al-Zubaidi’s attempts to escalate the conflict.”
In a swift and severe political response, the PLC held an emergency meeting and dismissed Al-Zubaidi from the Council, referring him to the Public Prosecutor on charges of high treason. The accusations include undermining state sovereignty, forming armed groups, engaging in armed confrontation with government forces, and endangering civilians. The PLC also dismissed the Ministers of Transport and Planning for investigation and reaffirmed the “non-negotiable” unity of military command.
The STC has fiercely denied the narrative. Through official Amr al-Bidh, the council stated that Al-Zubaidi remains in Aden, committed to security and stability. “He will not abandon his people,” al-Bidh wrote, accusing Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes in Al-Dhale’ that caused casualties.
This conflicting testimony presents two irreconcilable realities: one of a leader orchestrating an armed escalation and then fleeing, and another of a leader steadfastly holding the line while his negotiators engage in talks. The Coalition has urged citizens in Aden and Al-Dhale’ to avoid military camps and gatherings for their safety.
The situation leaves the already fragile political process in a perilous state. The promised Southern conference, a hoped-for avenue to address longstanding grievances, now hangs in the balance, overshadowed by accusations of betrayal, preemptive strikes, and the ominous specter of renewed internal conflict. The coming hours will be critical in determining whether this crisis can be contained or if it marks the opening of a dangerous new chapter in Yemen’s war.
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