Riyadh (South24)

The STC delegation in the Saudi capital Riyadh held diplomatic and political meetings, described as "important" over the past days, the last of which was the meeting of the STC President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi and the accompanying delegation, today, with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

According to the US embassy in Yemen, the meeting brought together Al-Zubaidi with the ambassadors of Washington, Moscow, Beijing, London and Paris focusing on "the Riyadh Agreement implementation as well as on the latest developments on the ground."

Political sources described the meeting as "senior level and important." The sources considered that the meeting was "historic for South at the political level since 1994."

According to the STC official website, South's cause topped Al-Zubaidi's discussions with the P5 Heads of Mission.

The website said that Al-Zubaidi "stressed the need for an active presence of the STC in all stages of the upcoming political process to stop the war and bring peace to the region."

Al-Zubaidi reviewed, according to the press statement, "the efforts of the STC and its forces in countering-terrorism and in confronting smuggling operations across the coasts of South, securing international shipping corridors in Bab el-Mandab, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, as well as for confronting the Houthi militia and Iranian activity."

The meeting also discussed ways and methods of addressing the worsening economic crisis and restructuring the state systems and institutions, foremost of which are the economic, financial and supervisory institutions as well as the judiciary and political institutions.

Al-Zubaidi had met, since his visit to Riyadh at an official invitation in mid-November, with a number of personalities, most notably the US Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking and Chargé d'Affairs to the US Embassy Cathy Westley.

Al-Zubaidi also met last Saturday the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Yemen Thomas Led Bull. According to STC's media, the two parties discussed completing the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement and the economic situation.

It should be noted that escalating military events are taking place inside Yemen, in conjunction with Aidrous Al-Zubaidi's visit to Riyadh and the meetings he is holding.

On November 12, the "Joint Forces" backed by the Saudi-led Coalition announced their withdrawal from a number of areas in Hodeidah governorate, on the Western Coast. (1)

The Joint Forces attributed this sudden military move to the "redeployment plan" in accordance with the Stockholm Agreement between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Iranian-backed "Houthi rebels".

These forces, which consist mostly of the Southern "Giants Brigades" in addition to the "National Resistance" led by Tariq Saleh and the Tuhami Resistance, said that they will "reinforce other fronts against the Houthis."

The Houthis seized large areas south of Hodeidah city after the withdrawal of the Joint Forces.

The Joint Forces again took control of the Hays district in Hodeidah, after battles with the Houthis, and continued their advance towards the Al-Jarrahi district to announce yesterday their control of "Al-Baghil", the first area of the district.

The Arab Coalition Spokesman Turki al-Maliki said that the Joint Forces' withdrawal "came within a military scheme by the Coalition leadership, in line with the military strategy to support the Yemeni government in its national battle on all fronts."

The United Nations and the United Nations Mission in Support of the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) announced immediately after the joint statement that these withdrawals "has taken place without coordination or prior knowledge."

The Yemeni Chief of Staff Saghir bin Aziz also met with the US Fifth Fleet commanders last Sunday in the Bahrain's capital, Manama.

According to "Saba" news agency, Saghir discussed with the US official the maritime security and the need for Washington's support for the Yemeni Coast Guard. (2) 

South24 Center for News and Studies

Photo: STC President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi and the P5 Heads of Mission, November 22, 2021 (official)