Aidarous al‑Zubaidi rejects Saudi ultimatum and vows to hold Aden

The leader of Yemen’s southern separatist movement, Aidarous al‑Zubaidi, has told supporters he will make a last stand in Aden after rejecting a Saudi ultimatum to travel to Riyadh for talks and, for now, a plan to flee the city, his supporters say. Al‑Zubaidi, president of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), has been gathering his remaining troops in Aden as rival Saudi‑backed forces seek to take control of the city.

The UN‑recognised government of national unity has accused him of high treason after he unilaterally raised the flag of independence for southern Yemen, and he was sacked from the government’s presidential leadership council. His refusal to travel to Riyadh, defying a demand from Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, prompted Saudi airstrikes on his remaining military camps in the Zubaid area of Dhale, the sources said.

An STC adviser, Amr Al‑Bidah, said al‑Zubaidi was “on the ground in Aden conducting his duties,” and quoted a warning reportedly given to al‑Zubaidi: “Either you come to Riyadh or we bomb you, and that is your last chance.” Al‑Bidah said al‑Zubaidi’s village was being bombed and that about 14 civilians had been injured and two killed; he also said a 50‑strong STC delegation that flew to Riyadh had not been contactable.

Key Topics

World, Aidarous Al-zubaidi, Southern Transitional Council, Aden, Saudi Arabia, Khalid Bin Salman