Saudi-led coalition strikes Yemen, says STC leader al-Zubaidi has fled

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Coalition says it targeted separatist forces after Aidarous al-Zubaidi failed to board a plane scheduled to take him to Riyadh for talks.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has launched strikes on the country’s southern Dali governorate, saying it was targeting separatist forces after their leader fled without boarding a plane scheduled to take him to Riyadh.

The statement, issued early on Wednesday, said the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) Aidarous al-Zubaidi had been due to fly out from the Yemeni city of Aden on Tuesday night for talks on ending the conflict between his group and the internationally recognised government of Yemen.

He did not board the plane however, and has “fled to an unknown location,” it said.

“During this time, the legitimate government and the coalition received information that al-Zubaidi had mobilised a large force, including armoured vehicles, heavy and light weapons, as well as ammunition,” it said.

The force was located in the Dhali governorate, and the coalition launched “pre-emptive strikes” at 4:00am local time to thwart al-Zubaidi’s “attempt tp escalate the conflict and extend” it to the Dhali governorate, the coalition added.

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