Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), is denying that it is disbanding, after a Riyadh-based delegation of the group declared the dissolution of the council and all its political and military structures on Friday.
The council on Saturday issued a statement on social media, refuting reports of its dissolution, calling them "fabricated and invalid." This contradicts a claim made by its Secretary-General Abdulrahman Jalal al-Subaihi in a broadcast on Yemeni television on Friday.
The dissolution announcement follows the recent departure of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi from Yemen amid intensified political tensions in Aden. His departure came ahead of Saudi-hosted dialogue talks on the future of southern Yemen, and amid growing internal divisions within the council.
The delegation is in Saudi Arabia as part of talks on the southern political track, marking a pivotal moment for a movement that has dominated Aden's political and security landscape in recent years.
The conflicting statements reveal deep internal divisions within the UAE-backed STC, amid heightened regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia has accused the UAE of helping the group’s leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, escape the country, while the STC has accused Riyadh of detaining its members and forcing them to make false statements.
As tensions rise, local authorities have imposed a citywide curfew across Aden over the past two days.
Official in charge of the Community Committees at the Southern Transitional Council
"From a security standpoint, those who have taken control of affairs in the interim capital, Aden, and in several southern provinces are southern armed forces, namely the Giants Brigades and the Southern Homeland Shield. There is no fear for the southern people. As for the public, they will return to the streets to demand secession from the Yemeni state," said Wakkas Ahmed, an official in charge of the Community Committees at the STC.
That curfew has since been lifted, according to security officials, as forces continue to monitor developments and maintain a visible presence throughout the city. But the group is now calling for mass protests in southern Yemeni cities.
Southern Transitional Council denies its dissolution
Southern Transitional Council denies its dissolution
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is emerging as a key engine for China's fast-growing low-altitude economy by leveraging its dense industrial networks, efficient logistics systems, and rapid innovation capacity.
From logistics and manufacturing to urban services, the region is building an integrated industrial chain that allows low-altitude industries to scale up at unprecedented speed, thus turning drone-based applications from isolated trials into large-scale, commercial operations.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan, covering 2026 to 2030, calls for the cultivation of new pillar industries and the accelerated development of strategic emerging industrial clusters, including the low-altitude economy.
At a drone operations center in Bao'an District, Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province, a dozen logistics drones take off and land within minutes. Urgently needed production parts, documents, and small parcels are dispatched from here to cities in the province including Dongguan, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.
Behind these high-flying aircraft lies what observers describe as an "invisible industrial chain", built on speed and efficiency.
"Look at this aircraft. About 90 percent of its components come from nearby areas. Relying on Shenzhen's strong logistics capabilities and its complete supply chain, these parts can be delivered to our factory within half an hour for assembly, processing, and production," said Li Kunhuang, person-in-charge of Shenzhen GODO Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
Once a new product is unveiled, testing and calibration begin immediately at the drone testing field. As soon as the process is completed, the new models can be put into real-world operation, realizing almost “zero delay” from research and development to application.
Supported by a robust industrial chain, low-altitude routes in Shenzhen are effectively connecting the urban landscape. From its Bao'an District to Songshan Lake in Dongguan City, production components can be delivered within one hour. Supplies are transported between Zhuhai City's Xiangzhou Port to Dong'ao Island in just 25 minutes. And light industrial goods can travel round-trip within a single day between Guzhen Town in Zhongshan City and Xinhui District in Jiangmen City.
More low-altitude application scenarios are expected to be implemented in the near future.
In Qianhai District, Shenzhen is accelerating the construction of a pilot demonstration zone of low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub.
"We have built the country's first low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub, and are gradually developing a pilot flight zone that integrates multiple scenarios such as inspection, logistics, and cultural tourism. This will provide technical support for the next step of commercializing cross-border logistics and emergency rescue services across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," said Wu Xuemin, head of the Shenzhen Qianhai Low-Altitude Integrated Three-Dimensional Transportation Hub Pilot Demonstration Zone.
Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth
