ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's government forces announced on Friday evening that 32 of their soldiers were killed and 45 others wounded in attacks carried out by armed groups affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the eastern province of Hadramout.
The government-run Saba News Agency quoted a statement by the general staff command mourning "the heroic martyrs ... who fell while performing their national and constitutional duty in defense of themselves and their country" against attacks by STC-affiliated groups.
The statement said the attacks had "no legal or legitimate justification," noting that some officers and soldiers remain missing. It also accused the armed groups of executing some of the wounded and killing detainees, describing the acts as a blatant violation of all domestic and international laws.
The general staff command reaffirmed the armed forces' commitment to defending the country and its unity, emphasizing that such attacks would only strengthen their resolve to counter any attempts to undermine national security and stability.
Established in 2017, the STC has consistently pursued the independence of southern Yemen. In early December, STC forces seized control of the city of Seiyun, the second-largest city in Hadramout province, as well as other areas in the strategic oil-rich province and the neighboring eastern province of Al Mahrah.
Chief of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi said last week that unilateral actions by the STC threaten the unity of security and military decision-making and undermine the authority of the internationally recognized government, calling on the international community to adopt a unified and clear stance rejecting unilateral measures and any challenge to the government's powers. ■
