Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The Arab Coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced on Wednesday that it had carried out preemptive airstrikes targeting forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), marking a sharp escalation in tensions among nominal allies within the anti-Houthi camp.
In an official statement, the coalition said the strikes were aimed at disrupting military movements by the STC, led by Aidarus al-Zubaidi, which it accused of preparing actions that could further inflame the conflict in southern Yemen. According to the coalition, the operation was intended to thwart plans that threatened to destabilize the situation and widen internal fighting at a critical moment in the war.
The coalition stated that al-Zubaidi had mobilized large military formations toward the governorate of Al-Dhalea, describing the movements as a dangerous escalation. Yemeni media outlets reported that coalition aircraft struck weapons depots belonging to STC forces in the Habil al-Raida area of Al-Dhalea, targeting stockpiles allegedly prepared for use in the advancing operations.
Residents and eyewitnesses in the province said they heard powerful explosions that shook large parts of Al-Dhalea, coinciding with heavy aerial activity overhead. The intensity of the blasts underscored the seriousness of the confrontation, which pits the coalition against a group that has previously received backing from key regional actors.
According to the coalition, the STC leader also redeployed weapons and armored vehicles from the Hadid and Al-Sulban camps as part of the buildup toward Al-Dhalea. These moves, the coalition said, represented a direct challenge to efforts to prevent infighting and maintain a unified front in Yemen’s fragmented conflict landscape.
In a particularly striking claim, the coalition alleged that al-Zubaidi fled to an unknown location without informing senior leaders or members of the Southern Transitional Council. It further accused him of distributing weapons and ammunition to dozens of fighters inside the southern port city of Aden, under the leadership of local commanders Moamen al-Saqqaf and Mukhtar al-Nubi, with the stated aim of creating chaos and unrest.
The confrontation highlights the deep fractures within Yemen’s anti-Houthi forces, despite years of efforts to present a united political and military front. The Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for the secession of southern Yemen, has repeatedly clashed with forces aligned with the internationally recognized government, even as both sides nominally oppose the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
The coalition’s decision to carry out direct strikes against STC positions signals growing frustration with what it sees as unilateral actions by al-Zubaidi that risk plunging the south into renewed internal conflict. Analysts warn that such clashes could further complicate diplomatic efforts to stabilize Yemen and distract from attempts to reach a broader political settlement after years of devastating war.
As the situation develops, the strikes raise urgent questions about the future of power-sharing arrangements in southern Yemen and the ability of regional actors to contain rival agendas within their own alliance. For civilians in Al-Dhalea and Aden, the latest escalation adds another layer of uncertainty to a conflict that has already exacted a heavy human toll.
