Saudi Arabia conducted more than 15 airstrikes early Wednesday in Yemen’s southern province of Dhale, the main stronghold of separatist leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi, who reportedly fled and failed to travel to Riyadh for scheduled peace negotiations, according to a local official.
The official, speaking anonymously to AFP as he was not authorized to brief media, said the strikes targeted “the homes of local leaders loyal” to al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
In a statement, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government said it had carried out “limited preemptive strikes” against separatist forces in the south to prevent “the escalation and spread of the conflict.” The coalition stated that al-Zubaidi “fled to an unknown location” and did not board his scheduled flight to the talks in Riyadh.
The coalition said it acted after receiving intelligence around midnight GMT that al-Zubaidi had mobilized a large force—including armored vehicles and heavy weapons—toward Dhale. According to the statement, he had also “distributed weapons and ammunition to dozens of elements inside Aden” under specific commanders “with the aim of creating unrest.”
“Coalition forces, in coordination with the Aden government forces and the Homeland Shield forces, carried out limited preemptive strikes at 4:00 AM to disrupt those forces and thwart what Aidarus al-Zubaidi intended to do,” the statement explained.
Medical sources reported that four people were killed in the airstrikes on Dhale province.
In a related move, the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council announced the dismissal of al-Zubaidi from the council “for committing high treason,” referring him to the Attorney General and suspending him from duty.
The escalation follows the STC’s expansion of control in recent months, including seizing large parts of Hadramawt province bordering Saudi Arabia after expelling Riyadh-backed forces. The coalition had previously warned the separatists and conducted strikes, including one targeting a suspected UAE arms shipment to the STC.
Saudi Arabia had called for the talks in Riyadh at the request of the Aden-based government, with both sides initially agreeing to participate. The separatist delegation ultimately departed without al-Zubaidi.
Source: Agencies (translated and edited by Al-Manar)