Amid Heavy Gunfire… Protest Called by the Dissolved STC Storms Yemeni Government Headquarters in Aden
Yemen Monitor / Aden / Special:
Protesters loyal to the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC) stormed the first gate of Maashiq Palace—seat of the Yemeni government’s residence in the temporary capital Aden—on Thursday evening amid heavy gunfire, leaving several people injured.
Local sources told Yemen Monitor that dozens of demonstrators who had gathered at night in front of the palace gate, following a call by the dissolved STC, attempted at around 11:00 p.m. to breach the first gate. Despite warning shots fired into the air by guards, the protesters pushed forward forcefully, prompting security personnel to withdraw to the second gate.
The sources added that the protesters then tried to advance toward the second gate of the palace—where the government is based and had held its first meeting earlier that day—but guards opened heavy fire, dispersing the crowd.
Video footage showed three wounded individuals being carried away from the gate area, while armed men could be seen among the demonstrators.
The dissolved STC had announced the previous evening that it would not allow the government to remain in Aden and called on its supporters to protest outside Maashiq Palace. Demonstrators had begun gathering earlier in the afternoon without any reported incidents.
Meanwhile, a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and commander of the Giants Brigades, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami, stated in a message that he would not allow chaos in Aden, affirming support for the government’s presence in the capital to provide services and safeguard citizens’ interests.
