President Al-Zoubaidi: Lahj is the Stronghold of Revolution and Resistance and will Remain the Spirit of the South and its Strategic Depth

SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zoubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), and Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), accompanied by the Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the STC’s Presidium, Mr. Fadhl Al-Gaadi, a number of members of the Presidium, and heads of auxiliary bodies, today, Saturday, paid an inspection visit to Lahj Governorate, and they were received by Major General Ahmed Abdullah Al-Turki, Governor of the governorate, Mr. Wadah Al-Halmi, head of the local leadership executive body of the STC in Lahj, the directors of the governorate’s executive offices, and a large gathering of security and military leaders, sheikhs, dignitaries, and notables.

At the beginning of his visit, President Al-Zoubaidi attended the expanded consultative meeting organized by the General Secretariat for members of the local leadership of the STC in Lahj, the STC’s coordinators at Lahj University, civil society representatives, and the youth and women’s sectors, where his excellency delivered a speech in which he emphasized the role of Lahj Governorate throughout stages of the southern revolution since its inception.

President Al-Zoubaidi stated in the context of his speech: “Lahj is a major stronghold of the southern revolution and the cradle of the project of the South, and it will definitely remain the spirit of the South and its strategic depth, with its geo-strategic position and rich with highly qualified competencies that will be present in shaping the future of the South.”

President Al-Zoubaidi addressed the attendees, saying: “Today I am in the governorate that has been providing a lot since the beginning of the revolution, and none dares to deny what Lahj Governorate has provided in the various stages of the history of the South, and it’s enough for Lahj to be proud that its districts have embraced resistance camps from the beginning.”

In his speech, President Al-Zoubaidi reviewed the latest developments related to the political process and the road map submitted by the UN Special Envoy for a comprehensive political solution, the status of the South and its cause, and the recent developments related to the Houthi escalation in Bab al-Mandeb and the Red Sea and its implications on the peace process.

In the context of his speech, the President reiterated the importance of cohesiveness and strengthening the southern national alignment at this crucial stage in the history of the South, stressing the necessity of coordinating efforts between the local leadership executive bodies of the STC and the local authorities in the governorates and districts.

On the organizational side, President Al-Zoubaidi affirmed that the upcoming stage requires intensifying efforts in the organizational aspect at the level of the STC’s bodies, stressing the importance of engaging with the masses, getting closer to citizens and asking repeatedly about their concerns, and effectively working side by side with the local authorities to alleviate their suffering.

It is worth mentioning that during his visit to Lahj Governorate, President Al-Zoubaidi chaired an important meeting of the security committee in the governorate in the presence of the head of the committee, the governor of the governorate, Major General Ahmed Abdullah Al-Turki.

In the meeting, which was attended by Major General Kamal Hamshari, member of the STC’s Presidium and Office Head of the President of the STC, Major General Ahmed Ali Al-Bishi, Commander of the Ground Forces, and a number of military commanders, President Al-Zoubaidi gave directives to lift up all military checkpoints along the main road in the governorate, starting from the Rabat checkpoint until the last point in Al-Hadd area in Yafe’a, and hand over security tasks to the Security Belt Forces (SBF) so that they can perform their role in securing the governorate, protecting roads, and preventing any illegal levies.

In this context, the President highlighted the need to enhance the level of coordination between the security and military units through joint operations and for the security units to carry out their role in protecting citizens, safeguarding their rights, and maintaining public tranquility.