Saudi airforce raids hometown of STC's leader in southern Yemen

ADEN, Yemen - Saudi warplanes raided the hometown of Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), in Yemen's southern province of Al-Dhalea early Wednesday.

The raid was intense, with some 14 strikes carried out within a short period, a local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Saudi warplanes are still conducting extensive and low-altitude overflights across several districts of Al-Dhalea and some other neighboring areas, said the official.

Residents told Xinhua that a series of powerful blasts were heard, and tremors were felt across nearby residential neighborhoods. No official reports of casualties were immediately available.

The strikes occurred as local media reported that Al-Zubaidi had departed his known location in the southern port city of Aden. He did not board a planned flight to Saudi Arabia, where he was expected to take part in discussions on the situation in southern Yemen, and instead moved to an unknown location.

His absence has fueled uncertainty over the fate of the anticipated talks, which observers viewed as an effort to ease mounting tensions and address disputes between southern forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

An official from the Aden-based STC told Xinhua, also on condition of anonymity, that Al-Zubaidi "was unwilling to travel under the prevailing circumstances, citing strong pressure and a deadline imposed by Saudi authorities."

Military tensions and simultaneous movements by rival armed factions in southern Yemen have escalated over the past few hours.

Last week, airstrikes and ground operations by the Saudi-led coalition forced STC forces to withdraw from the oil-rich Hadramout province, which borders Saudi Arabia, and the Al-Mahrah province, which borders Oman. The STC troops seized both provinces from Saudi-backed government forces in December.

Formed in 2017 and allegedly backed by the United Arab Emirates, the STC seeks self-determination and eventual independence for southern Yemen. Despite joining the Saudi-led coalition and integrating into Yemen's ruling Presidential Leadership Council in 2022, the group continues to push for southern sovereignty, leading to recurring disputes over power-sharing and control of resources.