ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Saudi warplanes and reconnaissance drones conducted intensive aerial activity on Saturday over parts of southern Yemen controlled by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a military official told Xinhua.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the flights were reported over several STC-held areas, including the residential village of Zubaid in al-Dhalea province, the birthplace of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi.
According to the source, the activity follows airstrikes carried out earlier this month by the Saudi-led coalition that targeted houses linked to senior STC figures, including al-Zubaidi.
The escalation comes amid continued uncertainty over al-Zubaidi's whereabouts. He has not appeared publicly or issued an official statement clarifying his location since the recent strikes.
Earlier this month, the Saudi-led coalition claimed that al-Zubaidi had secretly fled to Somalia and then to the United Arab Emirates after failing to attend planned talks in Riyadh. The STC denied the claim, insisting that he remains in southern Yemen.
On Saturday evening, in his first public response since Saudi Arabia reported his departure to the UAE, al-Zubaidi reaffirmed his commitment to an "independent southern Yemeni state." In a brief post on the social media platform X, he said the people of southern Yemen had entered a new phase of resolve.
The pro-secession leader added that residents had shown the world they were the rightful owners of their land, referring to a large demonstration held on Friday in the southern port city of Aden.
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 Presidential Leadership Council in 2022, the group has continued to press for southern sovereignty, fueling recurring disputes over power-sharing and control of resources. ■
