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The Saudi-led coalition said on Wednesday that Aidrous al-Zubaidi, the head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), has fled to an unknown location after failing to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks meant to calm growing violence in southern Yemen. The coalition described his absence as a serious breach of trust at a sensitive moment, as clashes and tensions continue to rise in several southern governorates.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said Zubaidi was formally instructed on January 4 to travel to Saudi Arabia within 48 hours to attend high-level discussions. The planned meeting was to include Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, as well as senior coalition officials. The goal of the talks was to address recent attacks carried out by forces linked to the STC in Hadramout and al-Mahra, areas that have recently seen an increase in armed confrontations.
According to the coalition, the STC leadership announced on January 5 that it supported Saudi-led efforts to organize a broad southern dialogue and confirmed its willingness to take part. Zubaidi later assured Saudi officials that he would attend talks scheduled for January 6, and an STC delegation prepared to travel. A Yemenia Airways flight carrying members of the delegation was delayed for more than three hours, creating uncertainty and confusion.
During the delay, coalition officials said they received intelligence reports indicating that Zubaidi had ordered large numbers of fighters and weapons to be moved from military camps toward al-Dhalea late at night. When the aircraft eventually departed, several senior STC figures were on board, but Zubaidi himself was not. Coalition officials said he left without informing his colleagues and without disclosing his destination.
The coalition further accused Zubaidi of distributing weapons and ammunition to armed fighters inside Aden, allegedly in an attempt to stir unrest and provoke clashes. In response, the coalition said it coordinated with the Homeland Shield Forces and requested assistance from Abdulrahman al-Muharrami, also known as Abu Zaraa, the vice president of the Presidential Leadership Council. Security measures were put in place to prevent fighting, protect civilians, and safeguard public and private property.
Early Wednesday, coalition forces said they tracked armed units near the al-Zand camp in al-Dhalea and carried out limited pre-emptive strikes. The operation, conducted alongside Yemeni government forces and the Homeland Shield, was described as a necessary step to disrupt potential attacks and stop the situation from spiraling into wider conflict.
These developments highlight deep and long-standing divisions within the Saudi-led coalition over the future of southern Yemen and the role of the STC. The council, led by Zubaidi, is politically and militarily backed by the United Arab Emirates and has long pushed for autonomy or independence for southern Yemen. This position often clashes with Saudi Arabia’s stated goal of maintaining Yemen’s territorial unity under the internationally recognized government.
Saudi Arabia leads the coalition supporting the Presidential Leadership Council, which was created in 2022 to unite anti-Houthi factions and bring stability to government-held areas. Zubaidi is a member of this council, placing him within a Saudi-backed political structure, even as the STC maintains its own armed forces and controls parts of the south, including the interim capital, Aden.
The UAE, while officially aligned with Saudi Arabia against the Houthi movement, has supported southern forces it sees as effective partners against extremist groups and as key to securing strategic maritime routes near the Gulf of Aden. This support has at times caused friction with Riyadh, especially when STC forces clash with units loyal to Yemen’s central government.
Tensions have intensified recently in Hadramout and al-Mahra, two eastern governorates that border Saudi Arabia and are considered strategically sensitive. Saudi Arabia has worked to limit the spread of STC-aligned forces in these areas, while the UAE has historically supported a wider STC presence in the south.
In a separate move, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council reportedly issued a decree on Wednesday dismissing Zubaidi from the council and referring him to prosecutors on accusations of high treason. The allegations include forming armed groups outside state control and undermining government institutions.
The Southern Transitional Council rejected claims that its leader had disappeared, insisting that Zubaidi remains in Aden and continues to carry out his duties. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition urged civilians to stay away from military sites and report suspicious activity, saying it remains committed to working with Yemeni authorities to restore security and protect civilians.