Protesters in Southern Yemen Support Separatist Leader Amid Ongoing Conflict

Thousands of protesters rallied in southern Yemen's Aden to support the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and its leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who reaffirmed his commitment to an independent southern state in his first public message since his recent disappearance. The STC, backed by the UAE, briefly seized territory in late 2025 before Saudi-led forces pushed back. The protests reflect ongoing tensions within Yemen's complex civil war involving regional powers and competing factions.