ISTANBUL

Government forces affiliated with Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council moved toward the southern city of Aden on Wednesday, Saudi media reported, amid escalating political tensions in the country’s south.

The state-run Al Ekhbariya channel said units of the Nation’s Shield Forces headed to Aden, the country’s temporary capital.

The development came shortly after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) said that its leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, was still in Aden fulfilling his duties.

Aidarous was earlier sacked by Yemen’s presidential council for alleged high treason after his forces seized control of the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. The government forces recaptured the two areas earlier this week.