In a significant shift in the southern Yemeni political landscape, security and military forces in Aden have shuttered two of the most prominent headquarters belonging to the now-dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC). This operation, the first of its kind, follows months of heightened political maneuvering and state-led restructuring in the temporary capital.

 

Witnesses reported that early Sunday morning, units from the Giants Brigades (Al-Amaliqa) deployed extensively in the Tawahi district. The forces seized and occupied the headquarters of the STC’s Foreign Affairs Authority and its National Assembly. Military vehicles remained stationed around the perimeter, with troops positioned inside the buildings to prevent any unauthorized entry.

 

According to senior government officials, today’s move is part of a broader effort to reclaim state-owned property. The STC had previously seized these buildings by force following the 2019 conflict.

 

National Assembly HQ: Originally served as the main office for the General People’s Congress (GPC) party.

 

Foreign Affairs Authority HQ: Formerly the headquarters of the official state news agency, Saba.

 

Media outlets affiliated with the STC confirmed the closures, reporting that military personnel barred employees from accessing their offices. In a statement on its Facebook page, the STC-aligned Aden Independent Channel directly accused Saudi Arabia of orchestrating the raid, linking the move to the ongoing regional efforts to consolidate military and security decision-making under the Yemeni state’s authority.

 

For years, the STC had faced international and domestic criticism for its crackdown on rival political entities in Aden, including the closure of various party offices and the restriction of political freedoms. This morning's developments appear to be a decisive reversal, signaling the transitional government's commitment to ending paramilitary control over administrative hubs and restoring a unified institutional framework in the liberated provinces.