Saudi warplanes have targeted positions held by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen’s eastern Hadhramaut province, the AIC television channel close to the separatists reported.
According to the channel, STC forces stationed in the Nahb Valley came under attack. No information on casualties has been released, and neither Riyadh nor the STC has commented.
On December 9, STC leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi, who is backed by the UAE, announced that his forces had taken control of the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra. He said the next step would involve establishing institutions for a future southern Yemeni state.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry on December 25 condemned the STC’s actions as unjustified escalation and called for their withdrawal from the areas. Earlier, a deputy foreign minister from Yemen’s internationally recognized government, Mustafa Ahmad Nu’man, had warned that Riyadh was showing restraint toward the STC but could respond forcefully if tensions worsened.
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Based on materials from TASS