Amid rapidly unfolding events in southern and eastern Yemen, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced on Friday its intention to hold a referendum on the independence of southern Yemen within two years.
In a statement read by its chairman, Aidarus al-Zubaidi, the Council said: “We announce the start of a two-year transitional phase,” calling on the international community to sponsor dialogue among Yemeni parties that would draw out a “roadmap and mechanisms to guarantee the rights of the people of the South within a specified timeframe, accompanied by a popular referendum to regulate the exercise of the right to self-determination for the people of the South.”
Last month, STC forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates, had seized wide swaths of territory in the country, sparking a potentially fierce conflict in the GCC region.
Developments on the Ground
Al-Zubaidi’s announcement came just hours after the Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, launched an operation to retake military positions recently seized by STC forces in southern and eastern Yemen.
Salem Ahmed Saeed al-Khanbashi, governor of Hadramawt, stated that his forces had taken control of a military camp in al-Khasha‘a, the largest and most important military base in the governorate.
The government also appointed the Hadramawt governor as the general commander of the “National Shield” forces in the governorate, granting him full military, security, and administrative authority—a move the government said was aimed at “restoring security and order.”
Al-Khanbashi emphasized that the operation “is not a declaration of war, nor an attempt to fan the flames, but a responsible preventive measure to neutralize weapons from being used in chaos and to prevent military bases from being used as tools threatening Hadramawt and the security of its people.”
Previously, the governor described his forces’ actions as an “operation for peace.” However, Amr al-Bayadh, a senior official in the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, insisted the operation was not peaceful.
In a statement released on Friday, al-Bayadh accused Saudi Arabia of deliberately misleading the international community by presenting the Hadramawt operation as “peaceful, despite having no intention of maintaining that character,” adding: “The proof of this is that they conducted seven airstrikes minutes after the operation.”
Meanwhile, Mohammed al-Naqeeb, spokesperson for the Southern Transitional Council, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that his forces were on high alert across the region and ready to respond with force.
Al-Naqeeb accused the Hadramawt governor of attempting to provide political cover for on-the-ground developments, describing the situation in Hadramawt as “a decisive battle” for the STC forces.
STC officials also reported Saudi airstrikes in Yemen on Friday, with al-Naqeeb noting that three of the strikes targeted al-Khasha‘a camp, which the STC seized in December.
Suspension of Flights at Aden Airport
Meanwhile, flights at Aden International Airport remained suspended, a halt that began on Thursday, amid mutual accusations between the two sides over responsibility for the stoppage.
Mohammed al-Jaber, Saudi ambassador to Yemen, held al-Zubaidi responsible for refusing to grant landing permission to a plane carrying a Saudi delegation to Aden on Thursday.
Al-Jaber said on X: “For several weeks, and until yesterday, the Kingdom exerted efforts with the Southern Transitional Council to de-escalate… yet faced ongoing refusal and intransigence from al-Zubaidi.”
In a statement released Thursday, Yemen’s Ministry of Transport, controlled by the STC, accused Saudi Arabia of imposing an aerial blockade, stating that Riyadh required all flights to pass through the kingdom for additional inspections.
Aden Airport serves as the main international gateway for Yemeni territories outside Houthi control.
Al-Mukalla and the UAE Withdrawal
Developments in Yemen have accelerated in recent weeks after STC forces launched a sudden military operation that resulted in their control over wide areas of southern Yemen.
Saudi Arabia responded with an airstrike on Yemen’s Al-Mukalla port, targeting two weapons-laden ships arriving from the UAE, according to the Saudi-backed Coalition to Support Legitimacy.
Last week, the UAE announced it had decided to withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen “of its own accord,” following a request from Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi for Emirati forces to “leave all Yemeni territories within 24 hours.”
Saudi Arabia emphasized that its national security is a red line, while the UAE said it was surprised by the Al-Mukalla port airstrike.
Previously, the STC had been a major partner in the coalition fighting alongside the internationally recognized Yemeni government against the Iran-backed Houthis, who control Sana’a and northwestern Yemen.
The STC’s control over southern Yemen has brought it close to the Saudi border, placing Saudi Arabia and the UAE at odds.
