Al-Dhalea (South24 Center)

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Thousands of Southern Transitional Council (STC) supporters gathered on Monday, February 16, in the southern city of Al-Dhalea for a mass rally to voice support for the council’s leadership and its political agenda.

#BREAKING

Thousands rally in Al-Dhalea in support of the Southern Transitional Council#south24pic.twitter.com/Dr93TR8joi

— South24 | English (@South24E) February 16, 2026

Participants assembled in the early morning before marching through the city, waving flags of the former South State and chanting slogans in support of the STC and its president, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi.

In a closing statement, the participants reaffirmed their adherence to what they described as the right of the people of the South to restore their independent state. They also emphasized their rejection of the announcement to dissolve and dismantle the STC from Riyadh.

The statement rejected political arrangements "imposed under the name of a false partnership" and criticized the policies of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi. Furthermore, it condemned what it described as Saudi shelling that targeted Southern forces in previous incidents in Hadramout and Al-Dhalea.

#BREAKING

Photos from Al-Dhalea show protesters raising South Yemen flags and images of STC President Aidarous Al-Zubaidi#south24 pic.twitter.com/3PnxERxKyG

— South24 | English (@South24E) February 16, 2026

The event follows similar demonstrations in the governorates of Abyan and Al-Mahra on February 13 and 14, as well as a protest organized by members of the Southern diaspora in Munich on February 15.

#BREAKING

Watch: A massive rally began following the Dhalea event, chanting slogans against Rashad Al-Alimi#south24 pic.twitter.com/mxJMXqFKZl

— South24 | English (@South24E) February 16, 2026

Tensions have escalated over the past few days following an incident on February 11 in which security forces opened fire on protesters in the city of Ataq, Shabwa Governorate, resulting in the death of seven protesters, according to medical sources.