The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council announced today, Saturday, that its president, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, had received an invitation from Saudi Arabia to visit Riyadh, while the Saudi-led coalition confirmed the killing of 186 members of the Houthi group in coalition raids in Marib and Al-Bayda.
The announcement came during an exceptional meeting held by the Presidency of the Transitional Council in Aden (south), headed by Al-Zubaidi and in the presence of the council’s ministers in the government of parity, the governor of Aden Ahmed Lamlas and a number of military and security leaders, according to a statement published by the council.
The statement stated that the Transitional Council welcomes Saudi Arabia's invitation to Al-Zubaidi and confirms its positive response to it, praising "the keenness of the brothers in the Kingdom to unify efforts."
The statement expressed the council's appreciation for all efforts aimed at addressing the economic, service and living conditions, and consolidating the pillars of security and stability in the "liberated southern governorates."
The statement also affirmed the council's commitment to unifying the home front to "confront Iranian expansion and its militia arms in the region," considering that the relationship with the Saudi-led coalition will remain a solid strategy.
On November 5, 2019 in Riyadh, the Transitional Council signed an agreement with the legitimate Yemeni government under Saudi sponsorship and UN support, with the aim of resolving differences.
Although a 50-50 government was formed on December 18, 2020, no significant progress has been made in the military part of the Riyadh Agreement, especially the integration of all forces under the leadership of the Ministries of Defense and Interior.
The Transitional Council is still in military and security control of Aden and other areas in the south of the country, which suffer from an increasing economic and living deterioration.
coalition raids
On the other hand, the coalition announced today, Saturday, that the raids it launched in the past 24 hours killed 186 Houthis, and focused on the front line of the front west of Marib, near the ancient city of Serwah, and in the province of Al-Bayda.
Since October, the Saudi-led coalition has announced high death tolls in raids it launched almost daily, aimed at repelling the rebel attack on the city of Marib, the last stronghold of the internationally recognized government in the north of the country.
The Houthis rarely announce their losses, which exceeded 3,000 dead, according to the coalition.