Hani Masour, a media figure affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council and based in Abu Dhabi, claimed that STC forces remain deployed at their military positions in Ras Abbas, Al-Jalaa, and Badr base, as well as at the port of Aden, the city’s exit gates, and government institutions in Khormaksar district.
In recent years, Africa has become a key arena for competition among major and middle powers, each aiming to expand their political and economic influence. This trend is driven by motives such as the continent’s rich natural resources, including mines and rare earth elements, leading to intense rivalry and proxy wars like those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The main losers are often the host countries’ interests and their populations. Sudan exemplifies this trend, notably with the UAE’s involvement. The Horn of Africa—comprising Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and Ethiopia—holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the Red Sea and its role in global trade routes. Its closeness to Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait further amplifies competition, especially among Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
In recent days, U.S. military drones have carried out three targeted assassination operations against members of Al-Qaeda and possibly Islamic State (ISIS) in the provinces of Marib and Al-Mahrah, located in central and eastern Yemen.
Armed forces affiliated with the internationally recognized (exiled) government, acting on orders from Shabwah’s security command, opened fire on supporters of Southern Transitional Council (STC) gathered outside the Shabwah governorate building in the city of Ataq. The incident reportedly resulted in an unspecified number of casualties among the southern supporters.
A Yemeni man named Mohammed Ahmed al-Haddad, from Dhi al-Sufal district in Ibb province, was killed while fighting as a foreign recruit in the Russia–Ukraine war during Ukrainian army attacks.
The Saudi-led coalition has released information claiming that Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, head of the Southern Transitional Council, fled to the United Arab Emirates following recent defeats in eastern and southern Yemen.
With Saudi air support, forces of Yemen’s government-in-exile have taken control of the provinces of Abyan and Aden.
Last night, Saudi warplanes carried out airstrikes on Jabal Radfan in Lahij Province, the city of Al-Dhale, the Zand base, and areas around the village of Zubeid in Al-Dhale Province. The bombings resulted in casualties among Southern fighters and also civilians.
With the support of Saudi air power, the forces of Yemen’s government-in-exile regained control of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra provinces, taking them back from the Southern Transitional Council.
The UAE’s exit from Yemen as the second key member of the Saudi-led coalition signals the failure of the coalition’s military strategy and a further shift in the balance of power toward Ansar Allah. This move weakens the exiled government and intensifies internal clashes between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Saudi-backed factions in southern and eastern Yemen — and could push southern groups toward declaring secession and courting new foreign sponsors.
The UAE Ministry of Defense, in a statement responding to the Yemeni government’s announcement of ending cooperation, declared the voluntary withdrawal of its remaining counter‑terrorism teams from Yemen.
Rashad al‑Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, declared a 90‑day state of emergency, canceled the joint agreement with the UAE, and ordered Emirati forces to leave all Yemeni territory within 24 hours.
