Saudi-backed forces tear down STC head posters in Aden
ADEN, July 14 (YPA) – Political and field tensions have escalated in recent hours between the Saudi Special Committee and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the southern city of Aden and the oil-rich Wadi and Desert districts of Hadramout in eastern Yemen.
According to the report, armed members of the Saudi-backed Dera al-Watan and Emergency Forces, dressed in civilian clothing, tore down posters of STC’s head Aidarous al-Zubaidi in the Khor-Maksar district and other parts of Aden.
The move was reportedly carried out under direct orders from the Saudi Special Committee, which the report says oversees affairs in the city.
The removal of al-Zubaidi’s posters sparked anger among STC supporters in Aden, with local activists vowing to put the posters back up as an act of defiance.
The incident follows a campaign in recent months that reportedly included the closure of several STC offices, including al-Zubaidi’s office.
The report says the move came in response to the STC’s announcement of an escalation campaign that began on Sunday with demonstrations and protests demanding the withdrawal of Saudi-backed forces and an end to Saudi tutelage and occupation in southern Yemen.
Meanwhile, the STC’s branch in Wadi and Desert Hadramout called on Tuesday for the removal of Saudi-backed Emergency Forces from the valley districts, citing increasing chaos and a wave of assassinations in Seiyun, along the Al-Abr road, and in other areas.
During a meeting, STC members also rejected a decision by Saudi-funded Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi to impose customs duties on goods and merchandise, arguing that the measures had worsened living conditions for citizens.
The meeting approved a series of escalation measures against Saudi tutelage in Wadi and Desert Hadramout and urged residents to remain prepared for any new developments on the ground.
The report adds that these developments come amid heightened political tensions following what it describes as Saudi Arabia’s dissolution of the STC and al-Zubaidi’s departure by sea from Aden to Somalia and then to Abu Dhabi after refusing to travel to Riyadh early last January.
It further added that Saudi airstrikes targeted STC-affiliated forces after they seized camps belonging to the Islah party in Wadi and Desert Hadramawt and advanced toward Al-Mahrah, resulting in more than 1,000 STC fighters killed or wounded, most of them from the area of Radfan of Lahj and also in Dhalea province, late last year.
AA