Who are the groups controlling Yemen?

"Eight southern governorates are under the protection of the Southern Armed Forces, including the port city of Aden, STC representative Amr al-Bidh told Reuters news agency. We are concentrating on unifying the operational theatre of our armed forces to enhance coordination and readiness to reinforce stability and security in the south, as well as combating the Houthis should there be a willingness to head in this direction."

"Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2015 between the Iranian-backed Houthis and the central government in Sanaa. While the STC opposes the Houthis, and is part of the PLC, the group has previously called for the separation of the southern region from Yemen. Yemen remains fragile and fragmented, with three main entities controlling most of the country and smaller groups maintaining influence in select regions."

Southern separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) says it controls eight southern governorates after a recent military operation. The Southern Armed Forces now protect those governorates, including the port city of Aden. STC leadership says it is unifying the operational theatre of its armed forces to enhance coordination, readiness, stability and security in the south, and to confront the Houthis if necessary. The internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) criticised the STC's unilateral actions as a violation of the transitional framework. The central government retains control of Marib and Taiz. Yemen remains fragmented amid a civil war between the Iranian-backed Houthis and the central government.

Read at www.aljazeera.com