| Fall of Aden (2026) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the2025–2026 Southern Yemen offensive and theSouthern Transitional Council conflict of theYemeni civil war (2014–present) | |||||||||
 The political and military situation in Yemen following the battle | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Yemeni Government (PLC) Saudi Arabia |  Southern Transitional Council (STC) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Aidarus al-Zoubaidi (AWOL) | |||||||||
On 7 January 2026, theYemeni government (Presidential Leadership Council, or PLC)forces captured theSouthern Transitional Council'sde facto capital,Aden, resulting in the STC's reported dissolution and the collapse of the group's forces in the area.[1] The city's capture was the culmination of a governmentcounteroffensive against the STC that had previously capturedHadhramaut andal-Mahrah Governorates amid Saudi airstrikes against STC positions.[1][2] Following Aden's capture, the secretary-general of the STC announced its dissolution and its leaderAidarus al-Zoubaidi fled to theUnited Arab Emirates.[3]
Aden has changed hands several times over the course of the currentcivil war. In 2015, it was designated as the "temporary capital" of Yemen following theHouthitakeover ofSanaa.[4] A few weeks later, theBattle of Aden broke out between the Houthis and PLC.[5] DespiteAbdrabbuh Mansour Hadi fleeing Aden, the government forces successfully recaptured the city and drove the Houthis out of the surrounding area.[5][6] In 2018, the STCgained control of Aden and has held the city since.[7][6]
A2025 offensive by the STC gained large swathes of territory in southern and eastern Yemen. In early 2026, the Saudi-backed PLC launched a counteroffensive that took back much of the land in eastern Yemen with the assistance of Saudi airstrikes.[8][9][10] On 7 January, the Saudi-backed forces began advancing towards Aden, launching airstrikes against STC forces in the region.[1]
On 7 January 2026, Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against the UAE-backed STC forces around Aden. The government army first entered the area atAl-Alam and moved into the city from there.[11] PLC forces captured the city'sinternational airport and thepresidential palace. The PLC claimed total control over the city and all districts of the governorate, but the STC denied these claims, saying that they still held control over some areas.[1]
After Aden's fall to the PLC, Zoubaidi went missing for a brief period of time.[1] He had been expected to fly toRiyadh for peace talks but did not arrive to board his plane.[1][12] The Yemeni government charged Zoubaidi withhigh treason on 7 January.[3][13] On 8 January, Saudi Arabia claimed that Zoubaidi had fled Aden by boat during the night toSomaliland, where he was then flown to the UAE viaMogadishu.[12][14][15] The STC maintains that Zoubaidi remains in Aden.[11]
A curfew was imposed on the city on 7 January after the battle, and was lifted on 9 January.[16][17] Theflag of Yemen was raised over government buildings in the city by PLC troops.[13]
On 9 January, the STC was reportedly dissolved by its secretary-general. However, others in the group's leadership have refuted this, claiming that the STC is still active.[16]