ALBAWABA- At least three people were killed and 12 others injured on Wednesday after violent clashes broke out between Yemeni security forces and supporters of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the city of Ataq, capital of Shabwa governorate.
Among the dead were two security personnel, according to local authorities. The confrontation erupted during a protest on Nasr Street, near Shabwa General Hospital, where demonstrators attempted to storm the governor’s office.
Eyewitness footage circulating online showed chaos as gunfire rang out and security forces moved to disperse the crowd.
Shabwa’s Security Committee said armed infiltrators opened fire on military units, prompting what it described as a “defensive response” to maintain public order. “We will not allow any actions that disrupt security and undermine stability,” the committee said in a statement, vowing to hold those responsible accountable.
While some protesters were reportedly unarmed, others carried weapons, removed Yemeni flags, and raised images of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi. Security forces dismantled protest platforms and pushed back demonstrators attempting to breach the compound.
The violence comes amid heightened tensions following the formal dissolution of the STC in January 2026 after internal rifts and pressure from Saudi-backed authorities. Al-Zubaidi fled to the United Arab Emirates after being accused of high treason by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).
Earlier this month, the PLC announced the formation of a new cabinet aimed at consolidating control after months of infighting within the anti-Houthi camp. However, remnants of the STC have staged protests in Aden, Hadramout, and now Shabwa, challenging the authority of the newly restructured government.
The clashes highlight the fragility of Yemen’s anti-Houthi coalition, which has been strained by rivalry between Saudi-aligned government forces and UAE-backed southern factions. The renewed unrest in the south could further deepen divisions at a time when the country remains embroiled in a protracted conflict and political fragmentation.
