President Al-Zubaidi to 'Alhurra': The South Advances to Build Democratic Civil State, and Relations with the Coalition are Deemed Fateful and Sealed with Blood

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), reaffirmed that the STC is the political entity representing the cause of the people of the South, which was founded as a culmination of the accumulated struggles of the Southern resistance and the Southern popular movement.

In his remarks to Alhurra channel, President Al-Zubaidi clarified that since its founding on May 4, 2017, the STC has gone through a complex series of local and regional stages and milestones, including the Riyadh Agreement and the Riyadh consultations. He asserted that the Council continues to build its bases and organizational bodies to cement its political and national role.

The President indicated that the STC has effective Southern armed forces on the ground, which work to protect the territory of the South and enhance security across its various governorates. His Excellency explained that these Southern forces are deployed on frontlines to confront the Houthi militias and combat terrorism, and they fight alongside other military formations outside the borders of the South, such as in Hodeidah and Taiz.

President Al-Zubaidi affirmed that the Southern Armed Forces operate in direct coordination with the brothers in the Arab Coalition and in cooperation with the United States in fighting terrorism and the Houthis. He pointed out that the "Arrows of the East" military operation, which the Southern forces have been undertaking for the third consecutive year, is achieving significant battlefield gains due to the immense ultimate sacrifices of its brave heroes and blessed martyrs.

President Al-Zubaidi added, "We are undergoing a federal transitional phase between the North and the South, marked by a complex political process. Our common goal in the PLC is to fight the Houthis as a common enemy for all." He affirmed that the liberated South continues to coordinate its efforts to support the brothers in the North in liberating their areas, paving the way for a joint political process that concludes with a two-state solution.

President Al-Zubaidi outlined that the STC has a clear political program to build a federal, civil, democratic state in the South that respects human rights. He noted that a number of residents in Marib and Taiz have expressed their wish to join the South, welcoming the coordination of understandings regarding the administration of their areas.

He continued, stating, "There will be no so-called 'Yemen in the South.' The coming state will be the State of South Arabia, based on mutual respect between us and our partners in the PLC, where we respect their will as Northerners and they respect our will as Southerners. This path will end with a two-state solution."

Speaking on foreign relations, President Al-Zubaidi explained that the South already has excellent relations with the United States, with an ambition to build a long-term strategic partnership in political, economic, and military fields, given its important geographical location stretching along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

He further pledged that the future state of the South would build distinguished relations with the brothers in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and all Gulf states, expressing the South's aspiration to be an active member in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

President Al-Zubaidi concluded his remarks by reaffirming that the relationship with the countries of the Arab Coalition is a fateful one, sealed with blood, and praising the role of the brothers in supporting the armed forces and building state institutions.

On the regional issue, the President affirmed that what is happening in Gaza is "unacceptable," stressing that the two-state solution is the cornerstone and main condition for the continuation of the Abrahamic Accords.