Aidarus al-Zubaidi, leader of the 'Southern Transitional Council' and the UAE-backed separatist group in Yemen, appeared in public for the first time in several months. In a simple room, with a map and flag of his desired country for southern Yemen visible behind him, he called for 'public mobilization' in the region.
Speech on the Anniversary of the October 14 Revolution
This six-minute speech was delivered on the occasion of the sixty-third anniversary of what Zubaidi called the 'Glorious October 14 Revolution'; a revolution that began in 1963 as an armed uprising against British rule in Aden and its surrounding areas. Zubaidi urged the 'great tribes of the south' to respond to the call for defending their southern homeland by holding demonstrations. He also announced that the Southern Transitional Council 'will continue its political path in accordance with the provisions of the constitutional declaration and the political statement issued on January 2 of this year.'
Read more: Trump Administration to Attend ASEAN Summit in Manila
Challenges and Criticisms Following the Resurgence
In December 2025, the Southern Transitional Council and its allied forces launched a swift operation to seize southern and eastern Yemen. This operation peaked after announcing the intention for independence but was met with a counterattack from Saudi forces and Yemeni allies, leading to the withdrawal of Emirati troops from Yemen. Zubaidi was subsequently sidelined from the 'Presidential Leadership Council' and accused of treason, which resulted in his disappearance from public view.
However, Zubaidi's recent reappearance in his speech faced mixed reactions. Some media outlets supportive of the Southern Transitional Council reported a large turnout of people in Aden's 'Parade Square' and stated that the speech was broadcasted via 'large screens'. In contrast, the 'Yemen Monitor' website noted a wave of criticism from Saudi activists and researchers who questioned the motivations behind this resurgence.
Zubaidi's opponents accused him of attempting to exploit the confrontation with the Houthis to regain the spotlight and disrupt the functioning of the Presidential Leadership Council. Meanwhile, some Saudi sources referred to Zubaidi as a 'fugitive' and stated that he is trying to influence the ongoing operations against the Houthis.
While Houthi media have covered this speech, other news sources reported on the existence of 'quiet behind-the-scenes discussions' to gauge Saudi Arabia's readiness to legitimize the Southern Transitional Council. This could lead to significant changes in the developments in Yemen.
Read more: White House Official: Information on Possible U.S. Attack on Iran is Incorrect · Donald Trump's Agreement with Russia and Houthi Threats; Iran's War at the Center of Crises
