ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed early Wednesday in Saudi airstrikes on the hometown of Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), in Yemen's southern province of Al-Dhalea.
Initial reports indicated that the airstrikes struck a residential house in the Zubaid area of Al-Dhalea province, killing six civilians and injuring nearly 10 others, said an official at Al-Dhalea's health department on condition of anonymity, adding that medical teams have taken the wounded to nearby hospitals.
In response, the STC said in a press statement on the same day that it was "surprised" by the Saudi airstrikes, describing the strikes as a "regrettable escalation" that runs counter to the prevailing atmosphere of dialogue.
The STC said it continued to engage "positively and responsibly" with political initiatives and dialogue efforts, stressing that serious dialogue remains the best way to address what it described as just causes, particularly the issue of the people of South Yemen.
As part of these efforts, it said that a delegation headed by its Secretary-General Abdulrahman Jalal Shaher Al-Subaihi, along with several members of the STC presidency, arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday evening to take part in an upcoming conference related to the southern cause.
The move, it said, reflected the council's openness and readiness to engage constructively in political processes that respect the "legitimate rights and aspirations" of southern Yemenis.
The strikes coincided with local media reports that Al-Zubaidi had left his known location in the southern port city of Aden and had not boarded a planned flight to Saudi Arabia, where he was expected to take part in discussions on Yemen's southern issue.
According to Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition, Al-Zoubaidi was "required" to travel to Saudi Arabia to hold talks with Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), and the coalition forces command on the recent escalation of the situation.
Al-Zoubaidi had earlier informed Saudi Arabia of his intention to attend the talks, and his delegation later went to the airport. However, he did not board the flight and instead went to an unknown location, said al-Malki.
In response, the STC statement said Al-Zubaidi remained in the southern port city of Aden, where he continued to oversee the work of military, security and civilian institutions.
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."
Meanwhile, Al-Alimi, the chairman of the PLC, revoked Al-Zubaidi's membership in the PLC on charges of "high treason," referring the case to the attorney general for prosecution, according to an official statement.
The statement said the decision was taken in defense of Yemen's sovereignty, accusing Al-Zubaidi of "exploiting the southern cause" to commit "serious violations" against civilians in southern governorates.
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 Al-Mahrah province, which borders Oman. 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. ■
