Aden (South24 Center)

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Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), warned on Monday (July 27) against any aggression targeting the South, its territory, or its resources.

His remarks came during a virtual meeting with the newly appointed members of the STC Presidium to discuss the latest political, military, and economic developments.

According to the STC’s media department, Al-Zubaidi discussed the “January events,” the attacks against the Southern forces, and the subsequent attempts to dismantle those forces and target their leadership.

The meeting stressed that the recent events represented “a coup against the partnership, the signed agreements, and the understandings reached.”

“We warn hostile northern forces against the consequences of any aggression against the South, its territory, and its resources,” Al-Zubaidi said.

He stressed that defending the South remains the “supreme national priority” of the STC and the Southern Armed Forces, with the support and backing of the people of the South.

Al-Zubaidi called on the Southern Armed Forces to safeguard the gains achieved by the South and work to protect them. He also affirmed that the STC would continue its political struggle and remain committed to the Southern National Charter, the Political Declaration, and the Constitutional Declaration issued in January 2026.

On July 25, Al-Zubaidi issued a series of decrees announcing new appointments to the STC Presidium, the General Secretariat, the National Assembly, and the local leaderships in the capital, Aden, and Hadramout Governorate. The appointments constituted one of the broadest organizational reshuffles within the Council in recent years.

Al-Zubaidi’s remarks come amid escalating political tensions over oil, resources, and public services. They also follow the July 20 announcement by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi that work would begin to resume oil exports and allocate the revenues to serve Yemenis across the country.

The STC rejected the announcement insofar as it could entail directing revenues generated from the South’s resources to areas controlled by the Houthis.

Separately, the Southern Armed Forces said on Tuesday (July 28) that they had shelled Houthi militia positions north and west of Qatabah in Al-Dhalea Governorate in response to the group’s military movements and attacks in the area.

They added that the strikes targeted a Houthi missile and ammunition depot west of Qatabah, as well as gatherings of military reinforcements at Naqil Al-Khashabah in Al-Dhalea.

The Southern forces said the strikes, carried out on Monday evening, were intended to degrade Houthi military capabilities and disrupt the group’s supply lines along the Al-Dhalea fronts.

The northern and western fronts of Al-Dhalea have remained among the active lines of contact between the Southern forces and the Houthi militia for years. They periodically witness infiltration attempts and exchanges of artillery fire, amid concerns that the military escalation could widen alongside mounting political and economic tensions in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government.