Yemeni Anti-rebel Forces Recapture Aden Airport

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Yemeni forces backed up by the Arab-led coalition have recaptured Aden’s international airport from Houthi rebels as heavy combat took place across the port city following the collapse of a humanitarian truce, the exiled government said. Forces loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi also took Aden’s central district of Khormaksar on Tuesday, and aid sources reported fighting around the port area. Aljazeera reports:

Backed by air support from an Arab coalition, Yemeni forces launched a wide-ranging assault in Aden this week to reclaim territory held by the Iranian-allied Houthis.  “Aden International Airport and Khormaksar have been cleared of Houthi and Saleh elements by armed forces backing Yemen’s legitimacy and the popular resistance forces, in coordination with and with direct support by the coalition,” Yemeni government spokesman Rajeh Badi said.

He said he expected Aden to be cleared completely within the coming days. A UN-brokered ceasefire to allow delivery of aid to a city desparately short of food, medicine and other necessities collapsed on Monday after Saudi Arabia said it did not recognise the truce and continued air strikes.

“The fighting in Aden began in the morning as the forces approached Aden from different positions,” said Ali al-Ahmadi, spokesman for the Southern Popular Resistance, which is defending Aden from the Houthis.

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