On Monday, December 2, 2024, local sources reported that groups affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) stormed a youth event in Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province in southeastern Yemen.

According to witnesses speaking to Barran Press, described as "thugs," the intruders forcibly entered the "Bin Mahfoud Towers" hall, where the National Conference for Youth from the Eastern Governorates (Hadramout, Shabwa, Al-Mahrah, and Socotra) was taking place.

The assailants unexpectedly stormed the hall, attacking the podium, tearing down conference banners, and vandalizing the venue's contents. They reportedly ordered attendees to leave and some claimed they were physically assaulted during the chaos.

Journalist Saleh Balsoud, one of the conference organizers, accused STC leaders of orchestrating the attack. He expressed that he suffered both psychological and physical harm during the incident.

In a post on Facebook, which was noted by Barran Press, Balsoud filed a complaint with the public prosecutor, stating he still feels dizzy from the trauma. He held Hadramout Governor Mabkhout bin Madi and local security forces responsible for allowing the event to proceed.

He emphasized that he would not relinquish his personal rights, asserting, "As a citizen, no one has the right to question my political affiliation without legal justification."

Balsoud further stated, "We came to the conference to voice the issues of youth, hoping to find someone who would listen amidst the dark reality we face in a country where we cannot distinguish between patriots, mercenaries, and subservient individuals."