President Al-Zubaidi Chairs Expanded Meeting of Military and Security Commanders of the South

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Supreme Commander of the Southern Armed Forces, and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired today, Sunday, an expanded meeting of military commanders and senior security officers across all governorates of the South.

At the beginning of the meeting, which was attended by Mr. Ali Al-Kathiri, Chairman of the National Assembly of the STC, President Al-Zubaidi expressed his great pleasure in holding this meeting with the elite military and security leaders, praising their pivotal role in maintaining security and stability in the South, emphasizing that this meeting comes at a very critical juncture, given the rapid shifts taking place on the regional and international scene and their direct implications on the Southern landscape.

In his speech, President Al-Zubaidi reviewed regional military and political developments and the STC's efforts to keep the South's active presence in regional and international decision-making through its proactive partnership with the Saudi and UAE-led Arab Coalition and international understandings aimed at promoting regional security and stability.

The President stated the South has become a key factor in the regional political and military equation due to its heroes' ultimate sacrifices and its security and military institutions' cohesion, explaining that the partnership with the international community demands intensified efforts and unwavering commitment to the highest levels of readiness, discipline, and responsibility.

President Al-Zubaidi commended the mini-joint staff committee's efforts in reorganizing the Southern Armed Forces and tangible progress in training and capacity-building, pointing out that these steps pave the way for transitioning from the resistance to building a professional, regular military institution meeting the requirements of the envisioned state.

The President affirmed building state institutions, primarily military and security ones, requires collective effort and strict adherence to discipline and military law, alongside continuously enhancing combat efficiency through regular courses and qualitative training for officers and personnel.

President Al-Zubaidi emphasized the fundamental importance of unified command and control as the backbone of any successful military institution and stated discipline starts with the commander and reflects on the soldier, adding that indiscipline among ranks directly reflects weak or indecisive leadership.

President Al-Zubaidi addressed the attendees, saying, "A true commander must read a situation's various complexities and make the right decision dispassionately to preserve the lives of his personnel and safeguard national achievements."

The President stressed the necessity of heightened readiness and vigilance on all frontlines, particularly amid persistent threats from Houthi militia and terrorist groups, and highlighted the importance of boosting intelligence, reconnaissance (air and ground), and enhancing coordination among all military and security units.

The President continued, "The battle that the South is fighting today is an existential one that accepts no complacency. The continued existence of these Houthi and terrorist armed groups poses a constant threat to the South's security and stability and to the security of the entire region, which makes it imperative for everyone to redouble efforts and assume responsibility in a heightened sense of national spirit."

At the end of his speech, President Al-Zubaidi reaffirmed the Southern Armed Forces would remain a safety valve for the homeland and a bulwark to protect its hard-won gains, faithful to martyrs' blood and to its strategic partnership with the Saudi and UAE-led Arab Coalition, and will continue executing all tasks to achieve the desired national goals.

Following his remarks, President Al-Zubaidi listened to a number of remarks and interventions by the military and security leaders participating in the meeting, which dealt with several operational aspects related to military and security performance, and provided the necessary clarifications and directives, assuring that the leadership closely follows up on every detail and pays great attention to overcoming the difficulties facing field units and commanders across the governorates.