STC Head Fled to Abu Dhabi

The head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, has fled the country and reached Abu Dhabi, according to Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.

In a statement released on Thursday, Al-Malki said Al-Zubaidi left Aden late Tuesday night and initially travelled by sea toward Somaliland aboard a vessel named BAMEDHAF, which departed from the Port of Aden.

According to the statement, the ship disabled its tracking and identification systems while en route to the Port of Berbera in Somaliland.

Al-Malki said Al-Zubaidi maintained communication with Awad Al-Ahbabi, a major general in the UAE Armed Forces, informing him upon arrival.

After reaching Somaliland, Al-Zubaidi reportedly boarded an aircraft accompanied by Emirati officers and flew to Mogadishu airport in Somalia. Following a brief stop, the aircraft continued toward the Arabian Gulf without declaring a destination.

The plane’s identification systems were switched off while flying over the Gulf of Oman, according to the coalition. The systems were reactivated roughly ten minutes before landing at Al-Reef military airport in Abu Dhabi.

Al-Malki added that the vessel BAMEDHAF was sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis. He noted that the same flag had previously been used by the vessel GREENLAND, which was involved in transporting military vehicles and weapons from Fujairah to Yemen’s port of Mukalla.

The coalition spokesperson said investigations are ongoing, including an analysis of individuals who were among the last to meet Al-Zubaidi before his departure from Aden.