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Yemen's Houthi militia gain ground in Aden Yemen's Houthi militia gains ground in Aden
(about 9 hours later)
Yemen’s Houthi militia, supported by army units, have gained ground in the southern city of Aden, pushing back loyalists of the Saudi-backed President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Yemen’s Houthi militia, supported by army units, have gained ground in the southern city of Aden, pushing back loyalists of the Saudi-backed president, Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
On Sunday, residents took refuge in their homes and reported hearing sporadic gunfire and blasts of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). One witness said they saw a Houthi tank in the central Mualla district, which sits astride Aden’s main commercial port. On Sunday residents took refuge in their homes and reported hearing sporadic gunfire and blasts of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). One witness said they saw a Houthi tank in the central Mualla district, which sits astride Aden’s main commercial port.
Houthi forces have inched forward in street-fighting in the city despite an 11-day nationwide bombing campaign by a Saudi-led coalition. That campaign is aimed at halting the Iran-allied group and protecting Hadi’s last bastion of support in the country. Houthi forces have inched forward by street-fighting in the city despite an 11-day nationwide bombing campaign by a Saudi-led coalition. That campaign is aimed at halting the Iran-allied group and protecting Hadi’s last bastion of support in the country.
Related: Crisis in Yemen – the Guardian briefingRelated: Crisis in Yemen – the Guardian briefing
Saudi planes airdropped weapons to Hadi’s armed supporters in Aden area on Friday, helping them temporarily beat back Houthi advances. Saudi planes dropped weapons to Hadi’s armed supporters in the Aden area on Friday, helping them to beat back Houthi advances temporarily.
The crates of light weapons, telecommunications equipment and RPGs were parachuted into the city’s Tawahi district, on the far end of the Aden peninsula which is still held by Hadi loyalists, fighters told Reuters.The crates of light weapons, telecommunications equipment and RPGs were parachuted into the city’s Tawahi district, on the far end of the Aden peninsula which is still held by Hadi loyalists, fighters told Reuters.
Saudi Arabia has said defending Aden’s government is a major objective in its mission and Hadi’s administration has called for foreign ground troops to intervene. Saudi Arabia has said defending Aden’s government is a major objective of its mission and Hadi’s administration has called for foreign ground troops to intervene.
Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi ambassador to the US, said sending ground troops remained “on the table” and the operation’s spokesman, Brig Gen Ahmed Asseri, declined to comment on media reports that Saudi special forces were in Aden. Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi ambassador to the US, said sending ground troops remained “on the table” and the operation’s spokesman, Brig Gen Ahmed Asseri, declined to comment on reports that Saudi special forces were in Aden.
In six months of fighting, the Shia Muslim Houthis have seized much northern and central Yemen. But they have faced stiff resistance in the Sunni south, raising fears of a sectarian civil war. In six months of fighting, the Shia Muslim Houthis have seized much of northern and central Yemen. But they have faced stiff resistance in the Sunni south, raising fears of a sectarian civil war.
In the city of Lawdar about 125 miles (200km) east of Aden, 10 Houthi fighters and allied soldiers were killed in clashes on Sunday during which four local tribesmen also died, residents said.In the city of Lawdar about 125 miles (200km) east of Aden, 10 Houthi fighters and allied soldiers were killed in clashes on Sunday during which four local tribesmen also died, residents said.