Nicosia: The Spokesperson for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced that the head of the “Southern Transitional Council,” Aidarus al-Zubaidi, has fled to an unknown location. Coalition Spokesperson Turki al-Maliki stated: “On January 4, 2026, the leadership of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy informed Aidarus al-Zubaidi that he must come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within 48 hours to meet with the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Coalition leadership to determine the reasons behind the escalation and attack by forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council on the governorates of Hadramawt and al-Mahra.”
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Maliki added: “In light of this, Al-Zubaidi informed the Kingdom of his desire to attend on January 6th, and the delegation proceeded to the airport. The flight carrying the delegation was delayed for more than three hours. During this time, the legitimate government and the coalition received information that Al-Zubaidi had mobilized a large force, including armored vehicles, combat vehicles, heavy and light weapons, and ammunition, from the Hadid and Al-Sulban camps towards Al-Dhali’.”
He continued: “The aforementioned Yemenia Airways flight was then permitted to depart, carrying a large number of Southern Transitional Council leaders, but not its president, Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, who fled to an unknown location, leaving the council members and leaders without any information about his whereabouts.”
The Spokesman confirmed that al-Zubaidi “distributed weapons and ammunition to dozens of elements inside Aden, led by (Mu’min al-Saqqaf and Mukhtar al-Nubi), with the aim of creating unrest in Aden in the coming hours. This prompted the Homeland Shield Forces and the Coalition Forces to request the Vice President of the Presidential Council, Abdul Rahman al-Mahrami Abu Zara’a, to impose security, prevent any clashes within Aden, spare its residents any disturbances, protect lives and property, and cooperate with the Homeland Shield Forces.”
Al-Maliki said: “The Coalition Forces also monitored the forces that had left the camps and found them positioned in a building near the al-Zand camp in al-Dhali’ Governorate. At 4:00 AM, the Coalition Forces, in coordination with the legitimate government forces and the Homeland Shield Forces, carried out limited preemptive strikes to disrupt these forces and thwart Aidarus al-Zubaidi’s attempt to escalate the conflict and extend it to al-Dhali’ Governorate.”
The spokesperson for the Coalition concluded: “The Coalition forces announce this and confirm that they are working with the Yemeni government and the local authority in Aden to support and maintain security efforts and to confront any military forces targeting cities and civilians. They also urge all residents to stay away from military camps in Aden and Al-Dhale’ and to avoid any gatherings of military vehicles for their own safety, and to contribute by providing information about any suspicious military movements to the security services.”