A senior official in the Southern Transitional Council (the STC, al-Intiqali), Amru al-Bayd’ (Backed by the UAE), told Reuters that several members of the Yemen government opposing the Houthis have fled Aden after STC forces took over large areas in eastern Yemen.
He insisted the STC did not ask them to leave, adding that STC fighters are now deployed across all southern provinces.
At the same time, Hezbollah-affiliated outlet Al-Akhbar reported that Saudi Arabia has withdrawn all its forces from Aden and from the joint operations room on Mayun Island. The pro-Saudi Yemeni site Baran Press also reported a Saudi pullout from Aden’s airport. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia and Sudan were reported to have removed forces from the presidential palace in Aden as STC forces advanced. Riyadh claims this is a redeployment for security purposes, not a withdrawal.
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