Yemen’s Saudi-Backed Council Expels Separatist Leader, Accuses Him of Treason

A spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition said it carried out preemptive strikes after Zubaidi mobilized armed units.
Yemen’s Saudi-Backed Council Expels Separatist Leader, Accuses Him of Treason
Saudi-backed forces on the outskirts of Mukalla, the capital of Hadramawt, in Yemen, on Jan. 3, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
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Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) said on Jan. 7 it had stripped separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi of his membership and referred him to the public prosecutor on charges including high treason after he failed to board a flight to attend Saudi-brokered talks in Riyadh, aimed at containing clashes between rival Yemeni factions.
The PLC also announced the dismissal of two cabinet ministers, Transport Minister Abdul Salam Hamid and Planning and International Cooperation Minister Waed Badhib, saying the measures were needed to stabilise the situation and protect state authority.
Evgenia Filimianova
Evgenia Filimianova
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Evgenia Filimianova is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of international stories, with a particular interest in foreign policy, economy, and UK politics.