Southern Transitional Council conflict

Southern Transitional Council conflict
Part of the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present), and the Yemeni civil war (2014–present)
Political and military control in Yemen, following the STC offensive   UN-recognized Republic of Yemen (PLC)    Southern Transitional Council    Supreme Political Council (Houthis)    Yemeni National Resistance
Date 11 May 2017 – 9 January 2026 (8 years, 7 months, 4 weeks and 1 day) Location Southern Yemen Result PLC–Saudi victory Creation of the Presidential Leadership Council in 2022 Southern Transitional Council dissolves itself on 9 January 2026 Territorial changes The STC initially held around 52% of Yemen's territory, including almost the entirety of former South Yemen [1] Following the counteroffensive, the STC lost all its gains along with its capital of Aden UAE withdraws from Yemen
Belligerents
Southern Transitional Council (STC) Supported by:   United Arab Emirates	Yemeni Government Hadi government (until 2022) Presidential Leadership Council (since 2022) Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance (HTA) Al-Islah   Saudi Arabia	Supreme Political Council (Houthis) al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Aidarus al-Zoubaidi  (AWOL)	Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi (2017–2022) Rashad al-Alimi	Abdul-Malik al-Houthi Mahdi al-Mashat
Units involved
Southern Armed Forces Hadhrami Elite Forces Shabwah Defence Forces	Yemeni Armed Forces Homeland Shield Forces Yemeni Land Forces  [ ar; es; tr; fa ] Hadhramaut Protection Forces Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia Royal Saudi Air Force Royal Saudi Navy	Yemeni Armed Forces Ansar al-Sharia Yemen Province

The Southern Transitional Council conflict was a conflict between the separatist Southern Transitional Council and other factions mainly the internationally-backed government. The STC was supported by the United Arab Emirates, even though the UAE is a member of the Saudi Arabian-led coalition working to support the Yemeni government. ^[2]

In 2022, the STC became part of the newly founded Presidential Leadership Council. In December 2025, the STC launched an offensive claiming much of South Yemen. ^[3] STC soon thereafter proclaimed a two-year-long process for self-determination. After the Saudi-led coalition launched a counter-offensive, the STC announced its dissolution of 9 January 2026 ending the conflict. ^[4]

Background

Further information: South Yemen insurgency, Yemeni crisis, and Yemeni civil war (2014–present)

In 2007, Southern Movement was founded as a peaceful independence movement. It gained political power after the Yemeni revolution and Saudi-led intervention when it sided with the Hadi government against Houthis. ^[5]

Timeline

2017

In the end of April 2017, Governor of the Aden Governorate Aidarus al-Zoubaidi was sacked by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, with the reason of disloyalty to him, and loyalty to the Southern Movement. On 3 May 2017, major rallies were held in Aden to protest the decision of Hadi. One week later, Southern Transitional Council was formed, and some of the members were the governors of Dhale, Shabwah, Hadhramaut, Lahij, Socotra, and Al Mahrah governorates. It also have partial control in Abyan and Aden governorates. One day later, Hadi rejected the council, and called it illegitimate. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

2018

See also: Aden unrest (2015–2019)

• 28 January 2018 – Beginning of the Battle of Aden (2018) between the Yemeni Government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC)
• 30 January 2018 – STC conquers Aden ^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

2019

See also: 2019 Southern Yemen clashes and Riyadh Agreement

2020

• 25 April – the STC announces self-governance. ^[15]
• 21 June – the STC takes seizes Socotra. ^[16]

2022

• 7 April 2022 – president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi delegated his power to the Presidential Leadership Council which included STC members like Aidarus al-Zoubaidi. ^[17]
• 7 August 2022 – the STC started an offensive in the Ayban province.

2025

• 2 December – STC forces launch an offensive and seize towns in Wadi Hadramaut, including Seiyun and Tarim, and later the Mahrah's governatore capital Al-Ghaydah. Before the end of the month, the STC controlled around 52% of Yemen's territory, including almost the entirety of former South Yemen. ^{[18] [19]}
• 30 December – Saudi Arabia strikes the port city of Mukalla, targeting what it said was a shipment of weapons that had arrived from the UAE. ^[20] Later that day, the UAE announced it would voluntarily withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen following the Saudi strikes. ^[21]

2026

See also: Battle of Aden (2026)

• 2 January – the STC announces an independence referendum after a two-year transition period. ^[22] Government forces, backed by direct military involvement by Saudi Arabia, begin a counteroffensive to retake the gains made by the STC. ^{[23] [24]}
• 9 January – the STC dissolves and Aidarus al-Zoubaidi flees Yemen. ^[4]

References

1. "Houthis mobilize for southern offensive in Yemen". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-12-18. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
2. "Yemen on the brink: how the UAE is profiting from the chaos of civil war". The Guardian. 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
3. "Separatisten erobern große Teile Südjemens". Tagesschau (in German). 21 December 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
4. "Südlicher Übergangsrat im Jemen erklärt seine Selbstauflösung". Die Zeit (in German). 9 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
5. Christoph Sydow (1 February 2018). "Kampf für einen neuen, alten Staat". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 12 January 2026.
6. "GCC rejects formation of Yemen transitional council | Yemen News | Al Jazeera". aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
7. The New Arab (11 May 2017). "Banished Aden governor forms independent "South Yemen" council". alaraby. alaraby.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
8. Saudi Research & Marketing (uk) Ltd. "Hadi Rejects 'South Council,' Urges Members to Clarify their Stances - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English". english.aawsat.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-16. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
9. "Yemen gov't rejects formation of "southern transitional council" - Xinhua | English.news.cn". news.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
10. "Yemen's Saudi-backed government 'to flee from Aden'". The Guardian . 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
11. "Breaking: Yemeni separatists conquer the city of Aden from Saudi-backed forces after two-day battle". AMN. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
12. "Yemen separatists 'capture Aden' from Hadi forces". The Irish Times. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
13. "Yemen separatists capture Aden, government confined to palace - residents". Swissinfo. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
14. "Yemen separatists capture Aden, government confined to palace: residents". Reuters. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
15. Fatima Abo Alasrar (April 29, 2020). "Yemen's competition for Saudi patronage heats up as the STC declares self-rule". Middle East Institute . Retrieved 11 January 2026.
16. "Yemeni separatists seize island of Socotra from Saudi-backed government". The Guardian. 21 Jun 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
17. Lianne Kolirin; Mostafa Salem (April 7, 2022). "Hopes of peace in Yemen as President hands power to new presidential council". CNN. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
18. Lease, Laurence (9 December 2025). "Yemen Is About to Break in Two". vocal.media. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
19. Gambrell, Jon (30 December 2025). "Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port over weapons shipment from UAE and issues warning to Abu Dhabi". AP News. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
20. Gambrell, Jon (30 December 2025). "Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port over weapons shipment from UAE and issues warning to Abu Dhabi". AP News. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
21. Gambrell, Jon (30 December 2025). "Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port over weapons shipment from UAE and issues warning to Abu Dhabi". AP News. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
22. "Separatisten im Jemen kündigen Referendum im Süden an". Die Zeit (in German). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
23. Gambrell, Jon (30 December 2025). "Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port over weapons shipment from UAE and issues warning to Abu Dhabi". AP News. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
24. "Yemen's Homeland Shield forces enter Mukalla". Al Arabiya. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.