Aden (South24 Center)

Anwar al-Tamimi, spokesperson for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), said on Sunday (October 18) that the Council does not regard Saudi Arabia as a “permanent adversary.” He said the restoration of an independent Southern state could be achieved through dialogue, without a new war.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, al-Tamimi said the Council remained committed to the timeline set out in the constitutional declaration issued by its president, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, on January 2. The declaration established a two-year transitional period. He said the process was continuing despite regional challenges, with subsequent stages expected to advance alongside gradual international recognition.

Addressing tensions with Riyadh, al-Tamimi said the dispute centered on elements within the Yemeni government, foremost among them the Muslim Brotherhood and individuals he said were benefiting from the continuation of the war. He accused Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi and other figures of misleading Saudi Arabia about developments in the South, adding that some had links to al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Al-Tamimi welcomed Egypt’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s defense, expressing hope that an Egyptian presence alongside the Kingdom would help curb Houthi attacks, which he said the Council condemned.

He said airstrikes targeting Southern forces earlier this year, along with al-Alimi’s call for Emirati forces to withdraw, had weakened the anti-Houthi front and paved the way for the Houthis to advance toward Mocha, Taiz and Bab al-Mandab.

He added that Southern forces, backed by local tribes and popular resistance, had helped halt the Houthi advance toward the strait and recapture positions in the Kahboub mountain range and parts of Mayun Island. He warned that the Houthis continued to hold positions overlooking Bab al-Mandab.

Al-Tamimi rejected the deployment of Southern forces to fight outside the South under a military command structure he said lacked effectiveness and coordination. “We will not risk joining an outdated military command that harbors intentions to eliminate Southern forces,” he said, accusing some parties of seeking to exhaust Southern fighters in battles unrelated to their national cause.

On the humanitarian front, he said the Council was working to deliver aid through local organizations and donors but lacked the resources to meet growing needs. He called for a stronger regional and international humanitarian presence in areas affected by the war.

Al-Tamimi’s remarks came after demonstrations were held in Aden and several southern governorates on October 14, following a televised address by STC President Aidarous al-Zubaidi in which he called for general mobilization. Demonstrators called for the restoration of an independent Southern state.