President Al-Zubaidi Discusses with Sheikh Al-Barakani Ways to Concert Efforts to Boost Security and Stability in Liberated Governorates

His Excellency President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), received, on Monday at the Presidential Palace in the capital Aden, the Speaker of the Parliament, Sheikh Sultan Al-Barakani.

The meeting, which was attended by Lt Gen Mohsen Al-Da'eri, Minister of Defence; Lt Gen Mahmoud Al-Subaihi, Advisor to the Chairman of the PLC for Defence and Security Affairs; Maj Gen Fadl Hassan, Commander of the Fourth Military Region; and several members of Parliament, discussed the latest political developments on the local scene and ways to coordinate efforts to enhance security and stability in the liberated governorates.

The meeting reviewed the efforts being made by our armed forces to consolidate security, combat terrorism, and confront arms-smuggling networks supplying the Houthi militia and particularly highlighted the recent tasks carried out to secure the areas of the Valley and Desert of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra Governorate, aiming to eliminate terrorist hotspots there and cut off smuggling lines that have served as a key lifeline for providing the Houthi militias with weapons and drugs.

The meeting further discussed ways to coordinate positions and joint efforts to liberate areas under militia control. In this context, President Al-Zubaidi reaffirmed the readiness of the Southern Armed Forces to participate effectively in any military operation aimed at liberating Northern areas from the control of the Houthi militia, provided there is a genuine will and sincere intent among anti-militia forces to fulfill their national responsibilities on the ground.

President Al-Zubaidi asserted that certain forces within the PLC have faltered in performing their role in liberating the Northern areas, and have, for years, managed their battle only through the media, without taking practical and serious steps on the ground, which has contributed to prolonging the conflict and the suffering of citizens.