Pro-secession southern Yemeni leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi is seen here attending a rally in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, in May 2018. Saudi-led coalition forces on Wednesday said he fled talks on ending conflict between the internationally recognized Yemen government and his Southern Transitional Council separatist group. EPA/STRINGER
Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen said it launched preemptive strikes early Wednesday targeting secessionist forces in southwestern Yemen that were mobilized as their leader fled planned talks on bringing an end to their conflict.
The “limited preemptive strike” was conducted at 4 a.m. AST with the mission to disable the UAE-aligned Southern Transitional Council forces that were mobilizing in Dhale Governorate, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, said in a statement.
The attack was carried out as the STC’s leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, was scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia late Tuesday for talks on Wednesday on ending the conflict with the Yemen government.
According to the Saudi-led coalition, al-Zubaidi had informed it of his intention to attend the meeting and his delegation had left for the airport where his flight was scheduled to depart at 10:10 p.m.
The flight suffered a three-hour delay, during which the Saudi-led forces learned that al-Zubaidi had “mobilized a large military force, including armored and combat vehicles, heavy and light weapons” that were heading for Dhale Governorate.
When the flight was granted clearance for takeoff with STC leadership aboard, al-Zubaidi was not present, according to al-Malki.
Al-Zubaidi “has fled … to an unknown location leaving the rest of (STC) leadership and members unaware of his whereabouts,” al-Malki said.
The STC leader has also allegedly distributed weaponry to armed groups in Aden, where the secessionist group is based, “in order to create chaos and unrest in (Aden) during the upcoming hours,” he said.
Saudi-led coalition forces followed the mobilized military equipment to Dhale Governorate, where they attacked the assets in order to disable them “and thwart what Aidarous Al-Zubaidi was aiming to accomplish.”
Founded in 2017, the STC seeks an independent southern Yemeni state and is supported by the United Arab Emirates.
Fighting broke out between the two sides in Aden in January 2018, but came to a halt in November 2019 with the signing of the power-sharing Riyadh Agreement.
Then in December, following years of sporadic fighting, the STC launched a major offensive in southern Yemen, capturing two oil-rich provinces. Saudi-led forces responded with airstrikes late that month, retaking some regions.
Following Al-Zubaidi’s disappearance, the Yemen anti-Houthi Presidential Leadership Council revoked the membership of al-Zubaidi for committing high treason and referred him to the public prosecutor, the SABA Yemen News Agency reported.
The PLC statement accuses al-Zubaidi of “harming the military, political and economic standing of the republic,” as well as “forming an armed gang and committing crimes including the killing of officers and soldiers of the armed forces.”
It also accuses him of attacking and violating the Constitution, breaking laws and undermining the sovereignty of the nation.
Amr Al-Bidh, an STC foreign affairs official, said in a statement that al-Zubaidi was in Aden.
“His people need him there,” he said in an English-language statement on X.
“While a senior STC delegation is in Saudi Arabia pursuing negotiations, the President remains in Aden to ensure security and stability. He will not abandon his people, and he will engage directly when conditions allow,” he said.
