The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally-recognized government said that Aidarus al-Zubaidi, head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), fled Aden for Somaliland.
In a statement obtained by Al Arabiya, the coalition said al-Zubaidi fled by sea after midnight on January 7 before traveling onward to Abu Dhabi under Emirati supervision.
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Al-Zubaidi departed from the port of Aden aboard a maritime vessel that sailed toward Somaliland in Somalia, according to the coalition.
The vessel disabled its identification system during the journey and arrived at the port of Berbera at around midday, the coalition added.
Upon arrival in Somaliland, al-Zubaidi contacted an officer known as Abu Saeed, who was later identified as Major General Awad Saeed al-Ahbabi, commander of the UAE Joint Operations.
The coalition added that an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft was already positioned to receive al-Zubaidi and those accompanying him.
According to the coalition, the aircraft departed without declaring its destination after al-Zubaidi boarded, under the supervision of Emirati officers.
Al Arabiya said it obtained an audio recording attributed to al-Zubaidi following his arrival in Somalia, in which he is heard communicating with Major General al-Ahbabi.
Based on the information available, the coalition said al-Zubaidi later traveled from Somaliland to Mogadishu before continuing to Abu Dhabi.
The coalition said intelligence findings showed that the vessel used in the escape, identified as BAMEDHAF, departed Aden shortly after midnight on January 7 and sailed toward Somaliland. The ship reportedly turned off its transponder before reaching Berbera in Somaliland.
According to the coalition, the aircraft later landed at Mogadishu International Airport at approximately 3:15 p.m., remained on the ground for about an hour, and then departed toward the Arabian Gulf.
The coalition said the aircraft’s transponder was switched off over the Gulf of Oman and reactivated shortly before landing at al-Rif Air Base in Abu Dhabi at 8:47 p.m. Saudi time.
The coalition said the aircraft involved is typically used on routes linked to conflict zones, including Libya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
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