Yemen's southern movement has defended its military takeover of the south-east of the country, pushing back against calls to resolve its disagreements with government partners through negotiation.
Territory across Yemen's coastline has fallen in recent weeks to the Southern Transitional Council.
The STC, part of Yemen’s UN-backed government, launched military operations to take over three provinces in the name of combating terrorism and smuggling. It accuses other parties in the government of mishandling the economy and national security.
Mohamed Al Sahimi, the STC representative in the UK, claimed his party was stepping into a security “vacuum” to shore up the region.
“Armed militias had been enabled by northern government troops in Hadhramaut, including those associated with the Muslim Brotherhood and other extremist groups, including Al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula,” he told The National.
“Across the south, the STC is leading on security responsibilities to protect our civilians and counter the threat from the Houthis in the north. This is fully in the interests of Yemen, the region and the West.”
The STC has long called for a separation of north and south Yemen, after the Iran-backed Houthi militia took over the country's north in a coup in 2014. Other factions within the government are hopeful a peace process can reunite the country instead.
A prominent leader of the government's largest blo
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