Aden (South24 Center)

The President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Major General Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, said Monday (May 25) that the people of the South remain committed to restoring their state, rejecting what he described as “guardianship” and “incomplete projects” that do not meet their aspirations.

Al-Zubaidi’s remarks came in a Facebook post marking the 11th anniversary of the liberation of Dhalea governorate from the forces of the Houthis and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh on May 25, 2015.

The speech coincided with a series of expanded STC meetings in several southern governorates, including Aden, Dhalea, Hadramout, Shabwa, Abyan, and Socotra.

Al-Zubaidi said the “spark of liberation” began in the mountains of Dhalea, adding that the battle had brought down “the illusions of the invaders” and the projects of domination represented by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

He described the anniversary as a “militant milestone” that affirmed the resilience of Southerners and their commitment to restoring their fully sovereign state.

“We mark the 11th anniversary of Dhalea’s liberation at a time when some traditional forces, backed by regional parties, are trying to impose guardianship on our people and pass incomplete projects that do not meet their aspirations to restore their state and sovereignty over their land,” Al-Zubaidi said.

Coinciding with the anniversary, Dhalea witnessed a mass public and rhetorical festival attended by STC leaders as well as military, security, and social figures.

Participants raised Southern flags and chanted slogans reaffirming their commitment to restoring the Southern state and renewing their support for Al-Zubaidi and the STC leadership.

Major General Ahmed Al-Qubba, Governor of Dhalea and Commander of the Dhalea Axis, described the governorate as “the steadfast gateway to the South” and said it had remained “unbreakable” despite successive military and political challenges.

On Monday, the STC in Shabwa governorate warned during an expanded meeting of the worsening economic and service conditions, saying the council would prepare peaceful and legal escalation measures if living conditions continue to deteriorate and salary payments and public services remain disrupted.

#SHABWA

South24 Photos: Pictures from the expanded meeting of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) leadership in the governorate, alongside blocks from the General Assembly and the University Coordination Council#south24 pic.twitter.com/RbLZx6Xpqe

— South24 | English (@South24E) May 25, 2026

The meeting also denounced arrest warrants issued against several STC figures, including senior officials and local leaders in Shabwa.

The Southern Transitional Council was established in 2017 under the leadership of Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, who had previously served as a commander of the Southern Resistance and as the architect of the operation to liberate Dhalea in 2015.