ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) said on Monday that its forces have launched a new large-scale military operation in the country's southern province of Abyan.
In a brief press statement, STC military spokesman Mohamed al-Naqeeb said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts by the southern forces to combat extremist threats and reinforce security and stability in southern areas under the council's influence.
According to al-Naqeeb, the offensive targets terrorist cells in Abyan, which he described as "one of the main strongholds of extremist elements" in Yemen, adding that the campaign aims to "fully secure the province, cut off supply and logistical lines, and prevent militants from regrouping or re-emerging."
The fresh announcement comes amid escalating military and political developments in southern Yemen. In recent weeks, the STC has declared that it has taken control of the strategic provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahrah from other pro-government forces, consolidating its authority across much of the south.
The STC has justified its recent military moves by accusing some pro-government factions of maintaining ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, while also criticizing Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) for what it described as a failure to launch a serious campaign against the Houthi group, which continues to control northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.
Despite being part of Yemen's internationally-recognized government and the PLC, the STC's expanding military footprint has raised concerns about rising tensions with other political and military actors, as well as renewed fears that the group may push toward reviving its aspiration of establishing an independent state in the south of Yemen, according to local observers.
These concerns were heightened on Friday after Yemen's state-run Saba news agency, citing the General Staff Command, reported that at least 32 military personnel were killed and 45 others wounded in attacks in Hadramout attributed to groups affiliated with the STC.
Also on Friday, a senior Saudi-Emirati military delegation arrived in the southern port city of Aden in an effort to contain escalating tensions, a Yemeni government official told Xinhua. The official said talks focused on what he described as recent unilateral military actions by the STC, particularly regarding its deployments in Hadramout.
However, the STC rejected reports suggesting that discussions included plans for the withdrawal of its forces. In a statement published on its official website, the council said no talks were held concerning the pullout of southern forces from Hadramout or al-Mahrah.
According to the STC, the talks focused on "coordinating efforts to combat terrorism, curb weapons smuggling, safeguard international maritime navigation, and address threats to regional and international interests."
Last week, PLC chief Rashad Al-Alimi said 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.
Yemen has remained mired in conflict since 2014, when Houthi militants seized control of Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year in support of the internationally-recognized government. Established in 2017, the STC has consistently pursued the independence of southern Yemen, which has frequently put it at odds with state institutions, despite its involvement in the country's power-sharing government and its role in the current collective leadership. ■
