RIYADH — The Southern Transitional Council President Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi fled to an unknown location on Wednesday after mobilizing armed forces and triggering a security escalation in southern Yemen, prompting coalition forces to carry out a limited preemptive military strike. In a statement issued by the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said Al-Zoubaidi had been formally instructed on Jan. 4 to travel to Saudi Arabia within 48 hours to meet Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad Al-Alimi and coalition leaders to discuss recent escalations carried out by STC-affiliated forces in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah. The coalition said the STC Presidium publicly welcomed Saudi Arabia's efforts to organize an inclusive southern conference and confirmed its participation on Jan. 5. Based on those assurances, Al-Zoubaidi informed Saudi authorities of his intention to attend the meeting on Jan. 6. However, while an STC delegation was at the airport awaiting departure, coalition and Yemeni government authorities received intelligence indicating that Al-Zoubaidi had mobilized a large military force, including armored vehicles, heavy and light weapons, and ammunition from Hadid and Al-Sowaban camps, moving toward Al-Dhale around midnight. The coalition said the scheduled flight eventually departed carrying senior STC figures, but without Al-Zoubaidi, who it said fled after distributing weapons and ammunition to armed elements in Aden under the leadership of Moumin Al-Saggaf and Mukhtar Al-Noubi, with the aim of creating unrest in the city. According to the statement, Al-Zoubaidi's departure left other STC leaders and members unaware of his whereabouts. In response, coalition forces coordinated with the Yemeni government and National Shield Forces and requested PLC Vice President Abd Al-Rahman Al-Mahrami, also known as Abu Zara'a, to take immediate measures to secure Aden and prevent hostilities. Coalition forces later tracked the mobilized units and identified their presence near a building close to Al-Zand camp in Al-Dhale governorate. Following coordination with Yemeni authorities, the coalition carried out a limited preemptive strike at around 4 a.m. to disable the forces and prevent an attempt to escalate the conflict and expand it into Al-Dhale. The coalition said it was releasing the information to reaffirm its commitment to working with the Yemeni government and local authorities in Aden to preserve security and confront any military actions targeting cities and civilians. It also urged civilians to stay away from military camps, convoys and gatherings of armed vehicles in Aden and Al-Dhale, and to report any suspicious military movements to security authorities.
