Yemen Monitor / Aden / Exclusive:
Nasser al-Khobaji, a prominent leader in the Southern Transitional Council (STC), has announced what he termed “Zero Hour” for declaring the secession of South Yemen from the North, asserting that the “restoration of the [Southern] state is nearing completion.”
Al-Khobaji’s remarks came during a mass rally in Aden, marked by a sharp escalation in rhetoric regarding the situation in eastern Yemen. He claimed military victories in the valleys and deserts of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah, characterizing rival military presences in those regions as “forces of terrorism and smuggling.”
This development follows reports by the British newspaper The Guardian indicating that Saudi Arabia has mobilized 20,000 troops from the “Nation’s Shield” (Dir’ Al-Watan) forces to the Al-Abr desert.
“Zero hour has struck,” Al-Khobaji declared. “We embody our clear slogan: one hand protects and fights terrorism, while the other builds institutions, order, and the law.”
Al-Khobaji issued a veiled warning to Southern factions opposing the STC’s policies, urging them to align behind the leadership of Aidarus al-Zoubaidi. He argued that the “historic moment” does not allow for a plurality of visions—a stance critics interpret as an attempt to impose unilateral political guardianship over the Southern governorates.
This rhetoric meets significant resistance in Hadramout, Al-Mahrah, Shabwa, and Abyan, where many local leaders and tribal figures staunchly reject the deployment of STC-affiliated forces in their territories.
The speech arrives amid a deepening political stalemate. The UAE-backed STC has reportedly rejected Saudi mediation efforts that require the withdrawal of STC forces from Hadramout and Al-Mahrah in favor of the “Nation’s Shield” and local provincial forces.
