Saudi Defense Chief Reaffirms Riyadh’s Commitment to Yemen Peace after STC Dissolution
The Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, has underscored Riyadh’s commitment to bringing just solutions for Yemen‘s southern cause.
Prince Khalid’s statements followed the Yemeni Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) decision to dissolve itself due to the council’s failure to achieve its intended aims.
Southern Cause on Right Path
In a series of posts on X, the Saudi Defense Minister hailed the STC’s decision, saying that Yemen’s southern cause now has a “genuine path” forward supported by Saudi Arabia and the international community through the Riyadh Conference.
He noted that the Kingdom seeks, through the Riyadh Conference, to bring together southern figures in order to “develop a comprehensive vision for just solutions that meet their will and aspirations.”
Riyadh Conference
Prince Khalid said that Saudi Arabia will form a “preparatory committee” in consultation with southern figures to organize the Riyadh Conference, stressing that it will include “representatives from all southern governorates without exclusion or discrimination.”
“The Kingdom will support the outcomes of the Conference to be presented within the framework of political talks to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen,” the Saudi Defense Minister said.
On January 3, 2026, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that Riyadh will host an inclusive conference, convening all southern Yemeni factions to discuss peaceful and just solutions to the southern cause, in response to a request by the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi.
In light of this, the Kingdom has called upon “all southern factions to actively participate in the conference to develop a comprehensive vision for just solutions to the southern cause that fulfills the legitimate aspirations of the southern people.”
Courageous Move
In his statements, Prince Khalid welcomed the decision by southern figures and leaders to dissolve the STC as a “courageous step” that underscores “concern for the future of the southern cause.”
Moreover, the Saudi Defense Chief noted that this move will “encourage broader southern participation in the Riyadh Conference in service of their cause.”
STC Dissolution
Members and bodies affiliated with the STC announced on Friday, January 9, their decision to dissolve the council, disband all its main and subsidiary bodies, and close all its offices inside and outside the country, saying that the STC “no longer serves the purpose for which it was created.”
In a televised address carried by Yemeni news agency (SABA), they also emphasized that they did not take part in the decision to launch the military operation in Hadramout and Mahrah, which “harmed southern unity and damaged relations with the coalition led by Saudi Arabia.”
Furthermore, they commended the Kingdom’s efforts and commitment to find peaceful and just solutions that meet the aspirations and will of the southern people. In this context, they called on all southern figures and leaders to take part in the Riyadh Conference.
STC’s Al-Zubaidi on the Run
The official Spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Malki, announced on Wednesday that the STC leader, Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, fled Aden for Abu Dhabi via Somaliland.
Before escaping, Al-Zubaidi mobilized a large military force, including armored and combat vehicles, heavy and light weapons as well as munitions towards Al-Dhale province. He also distributed tens of weapons and munitions to armed elements in Aden in order to create chaos and unrest.
These moves prompted the Coalition forces to conduct a limited preemptive strike to thwart Al-Zubaidi’s attempts to escalate conflict and spread chaos in Al-Dhale, Al-Maliki said in a statement.
Importantly, the PLC dismissed Al-Zubaidi from the Council and referred him to the Public Prosecutor on charges of high treason.
It accused him of undermining the independence of Yemen; damaging the country’s military, political and economic status; forming an armed gang; committing murders of officers and soldiers of the armed forces; and exploiting and harming the just southern cause through grave violations against civilians.
