Protesters loyal to “dissolved” STC storm ‘Al-Aroudh Square’ in Aden, forcing Saudi-backed forces to withdraw

ADEN, June 20 (YPA) – Hundreds of loyalists to the “dissolved” UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) stormed Al-Aroudh Square in the city of Aden on Saturday during a protest rally rejecting “Saudi guardianship and hegemony,” following the armed closure of the square by Saudi-backed forces

Local informed sources reported that crowds arriving from the governorates of Lahj, Abyan, Shabwa, and Dhalea successfully stormed and reached the square. This occurred despite Saudi-backed forces blocking all access roads with dozens of military vehicles and armored cars, and despite intense gunfire opened by the “Al-Amaliqa and Belt Security” forces (which pledged allegiance to Saudi Arabia in early January), with no human casualties reported so far.

The sources stated that the demonstrators forced the gunmen aboard the military vehicles belonging to the Saudi forces inside Al-Aroudh Square to withdraw outside, amid warnings against any violations targeting the participants.

These developments follow actions by Saudi-aligned forces at dawn today, where they tore down pictures of the head of the “dissolved” STC, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, and fired live ammunition to disperse members of the protest’s organizing committee.

YPA