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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Aden, Yemen, January 7 (Xinhua) — Saudi warplanes carried out an air strike on the hometown of Aidarus al-Zubaidi, the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), in Yemen's southern Dhale' province early Wednesday morning.
The raid was intense, with approximately 14 strikes carried out in a short period, a local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Saudi warplanes are still flying at low altitude over several areas of the province and some other neighboring areas, the official said.
Local residents told Xinhua that a series of powerful explosions were heard and tremors were felt in nearby residential areas. There have been no official reports of casualties at this time.
The strikes occurred after local media reported that A. al-Zubaidi had left his known location in the southern port city of Aden. He had not boarded a scheduled flight to Saudi Arabia, where he was expected to participate in discussions on the situation in southern Yemen, and instead departed for an unknown destination.
His absence added to uncertainty over the expected talks, which observers saw as an attempt to ease rising tensions and resolve disputes between forces in the south and Yemen's Saudi-backed government.
A representative of the Aden-based STC told Xinhua, also on condition of anonymity, that A. al-Zubaidi "was unwilling to travel under the current circumstances, citing intense pressure and the deadline set by Saudi authorities."
Military tensions and simultaneous movements of rival armed groups in southern Yemen have increased over the past few hours.
Last week, airstrikes and ground operations by the Saudi-led coalition forced STC forces to withdraw from the oil-rich Hadramaut province on the Saudi border and the Mahra province on the Omani border. STC forces recaptured both provinces from Saudi-backed government forces last December.
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