• Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council, accused of high treason.
• The Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes in response to al-Zubaidi's alleged mobilization of forces.
• The STC claims al-Zubaidi remains in Aden, despite coalition assertions of his flight.
• The feud between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has intensified following recent military actions.
• Al-Zubaidi's political future is precarious amid accusations of forming an armed group and distributing weapons.

The leader of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidarous al-Zubaidi, has fled to an unknown location following accusations of high treason by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and reports from the Saudi-led coalition, which claims he failed to board a flight to Riyadh for critical talks. This development comes amid increasing tensions in the region and a fracturing of the fragile coalition that was formed to combat the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which still dominates northern Yemen, according to aljazeera and Reuters.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that more than 15 strikes targeted al-Dhale governorate, the birthplace of Zubaidi, due to intelligence reports indicating he had mobilized a large force with heavy weapons. The coalition spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, asserted that these actions were taken to prevent an escalation of conflict, reflecting the complex military and political dynamics unraveling in Yemen’s south, as highlighted by aa and channelnewsasia.

The PLC's accusations against Zubaidi include inciting armed rebellion, committing abuses against civilians, and undermining the Republic's military and political standing. These developments underscore a rare public fragmentation between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have historically supported rival factions in Yemen. This schism threatens the stability of a coalition originally formed to counter the Houthi rebels, as detailed by lemonde and middleeasteye.

Amidst this turmoil, the STC maintains that al-Zubaidi is still in Aden fulfilling his duties. They expressed concern over losing contact with their delegation in Riyadh, which raises significant questions regarding their future role in ongoing dialogues aimed at solving Yemen's persistent crisis. This highlights the precarious nature of Yemeni politics and the potential for further conflict as factions realign, as pointed out by bbc and middleeasteye.