Yemen government forces on Wednesday captured Aden airport from southern separatists and attacked the city’s eastern suburbs, Reuters reported, citing residents and officials. The renewed fighting has deepened a rift between supposed allies in a Saudi-led coalition.
Saudi-backed government forces recaptured most of the neighboring towns, previously lost to the United Arab Emirates-backed separatists, before moving on towards Aden, the temporary seat of the government.
The information minister, Moammar al-Eryani, tweeted that government forces had taken Aden’s airport from the separatists. The report was confirmed by residents.
The separatists and the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi are nominally united under the Saudi-led coalition in their battle against Yemen’s Houthi movement.