Sanaa: The head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has issued a warning regarding the recent unilateral actions taken by the Southern Transitional Council (STC). These actions, according to Alimi, pose a threat to the domestic situation within Yemen and undermine the security of neighboring countries.

According to Anadolu Agency, Alimi highlighted in a meeting with Yemeni diplomats that state institutions and agencies have been pressured into supporting the division of the country and adopting political stances beyond their authority. This development, he argued, jeopardizes the unity of decision-making and the legal status of the state. Alimi emphasized that governance partnerships should not transform into rebellion or attempts to impose conditions by force.

Alimi further warned that the actions of the STC not only threaten Yemen's internal stability but also have implications for the country's commitments to protecting the security of its neighbors. Additionally, he pointed out the potential impact on international efforts aimed at safeguarding maritime corridors, energy supplies, and commercial shipping routes in the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

In recent days, several Yemeni government ministers and officials have expressed support for the STC's call for the secession of southern Yemen. A government source informed Anadolu that these officials, despite their allegiance to the government, announced unilateral support for the STC, contradicting the government's stance.

The STC forces took control of Hadramout province on December 3, following clashes with the Hadramout Tribes Alliance and government-aligned First Military Region forces. The STC subsequently extended its control over Mahra province, previously under government authority, four days later. The takeover has led to local and regional demands for the withdrawal of STC forces from Hadramout and Mahra, which together make up nearly half of Yemen's territory.

The United Nations has issued a warning that continued escalation could severely impact Yemen, a nation already grappling with one of the world's most severe humanitarian and economic crises.