ADEN, Nov. 03 (YPA) – Rajeh Bakrit, a member of the Presidium of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), revealed that the declaration regarding the dissolution of the council, issued by Saudi Arabia last January, was not made freely or independently.

He asserted that “the decision was taken under pressure and coercion, and does not reflect the will of the STC delegation currently detained in Riyadh.”

Bakrit clarified that the STC represents the political will of the residents of the southern governorates, emphasizing that the so-called “Southern Dialogue” cannot serve as a cover to bypass reality. He reaffirmed allegiance to STC President Aidarous al-Zubaidi and renewed demands for the immediate release of the detained delegation.

These developments follow Saudi Arabia’s decision to dissolve the STC after airstrikes targeted its factional forces in the Al-Khash’ah area of Hadramout governorate, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The strikes coincided with an attack on an Emirati vessel at the Mukalla port, the expulsion of Abu Dhabi, and an assassination attempt targeting al-Zubaidi in Dhalea prior to his departure to Abu Dhabi by sea via Somalia. Concurrently, Saudi-backed forces from the “Dera al-Watan” and Emergency Units secured control over Aden, Hadramout, and other southern provinces.

In a related context, the Saudi “Special Committee” assigned Saudi commander Falah Al-Shahrani to oversee the dismantling and restructuring of STC-aligned factions, at the request of “Defense Minister” Taher Al-Aqili. Measures taken include the seizure of heavy weaponry, freezing the council’s financial accounts, and an official submission requesting the inclusion of al-Zubaidi and his aides on the UN Security Council sanctions list.

YPA