In a development that could redraw the map of Yemen’s conflict, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced that it had taken control of wide areas in the country’s south, including the city of Aden.
For nearly a decade, the coastal city has served as the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia.
The STC, which seeks an independent South Yemen, said several senior officials had left Aden, including the prime minister and the head of the eight-member body that replaced the presidency.
The United Arab Emirates backs the STC in the civil war, now nearing its tenth year. The council has previously clashed with other factions within the Saudi-backed government.
Since 2022, the STC has been part of an administration governing southern areas outside the reach of the Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa since 2014.
About a week ago, the STC launched a military operation called “Promising Future,” through which it asserted control over all southern provinces, according to Amr al-Beidh, a senior STC official. He said the council is now focused on unifying theaters of military operations to strengthen coordination and beef up preparedness, support stability and security in the south, and confront the Houthis if there is a decision to move in that direction.
Al-Beidh added that Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council—formed in 2022 to replace the presidency—had left Aden, as had Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Buraik, even though the STC did not ask them to leave.
Al-Alimi, in a statement released today, said the STC’s actions across the south undermine the legitimacy of the internationally recognized government and violate power-sharing agreements.
The STC’s advance marks a major shift in control across southern Yemen.
Under a Saudi-led initiative to unite anti-Houthi factions, the STC—under al-Alimi’s leadership—had taken part in the Presidential Leadership Council.
Reuters quoted an unnamed Emirati official as saying that the UAE’s position on Yemen “aligns with that of Saudi Arabia in supporting the political process” based on GCC-backed initiatives and U.N. resolutions.
Media reports have linked the latest developments in southern Yemen to the UAE’s response to a request by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During his Nov. 18 meeting in Washington with President Donald Trump, the crown prince asked the U.S. to intervene to end the war in Sudan.
The Saudi request coincided with a wave of international criticism of the UAE over allegations that it supports Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, accused of carrying out genocidal attacks in Darfur.
