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| Yemen: Aden 'liberated' from rebels, exiled leader says | Yemen: Aden 'liberated' from rebels, exiled leader says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Yemen's southern province of Aden has been "liberated" from Houthi rebel forces, the country's exiled vice-president has declared. | Yemen's southern province of Aden has been "liberated" from Houthi rebel forces, the country's exiled vice-president has declared. |
| Khaled Bahah, who is in Saudi Arabia, said his government would work to restore basic services there. | Khaled Bahah, who is in Saudi Arabia, said his government would work to restore basic services there. |
| Aden has for months seen heavy fighting between rebels and loyalist forces backed by Saudi-led air strikes. | Aden has for months seen heavy fighting between rebels and loyalist forces backed by Saudi-led air strikes. |
| The government fled from its stronghold in Aden in March as the Houthis pushed towards the provincial capital. | The government fled from its stronghold in Aden in March as the Houthis pushed towards the provincial capital. |
| A major offensive to drive the Houthis out of Aden was launched earlier this week and made successive advances. | |
| However fighting was continuing in parts of Aden on Friday, and rebels still held the northern and eastern entrances to the city, witnesses said. | |
| On Thursday, several minister from the exiled government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi returned to the country for the first time since taking refuge in Riyadh. | On Thursday, several minister from the exiled government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi returned to the country for the first time since taking refuge in Riyadh. |
| They flew by helicopter to a military base on the outskirts of Aden city with instructions to prepare for the government's return, officials said. | They flew by helicopter to a military base on the outskirts of Aden city with instructions to prepare for the government's return, officials said. |
| Heavy toll | |
| In a statement on his Facebook page, Khaled Bahah said: "The government announces the liberation of the province of Aden on the first day of Eid al-Fitr which falls on 17 July. | |
| "We will work to restore life in Aden and all the liberated cities, to restore water and electricity." | "We will work to restore life in Aden and all the liberated cities, to restore water and electricity." |
| Aden - the country's main port and second city - has been devastated by weeks of clashes and air strikes. | Aden - the country's main port and second city - has been devastated by weeks of clashes and air strikes. |
| The losses in Aden represent the biggest setback for the Houthis since Sunni power Saudi Arabia launched a coalition air campaign against them on 26 March. | The losses in Aden represent the biggest setback for the Houthis since Sunni power Saudi Arabia launched a coalition air campaign against them on 26 March. |
| Mr Hadi had taken refuge there after the Houthis consolidated their control of the capital, Sanaa. | Mr Hadi had taken refuge there after the Houthis consolidated their control of the capital, Sanaa. |
| The Saudis say the campaign is aimed at forcing the rebels - who they say are armed by regional Shia rival Iran - to retreat and to restore the exiled government. | The Saudis say the campaign is aimed at forcing the rebels - who they say are armed by regional Shia rival Iran - to retreat and to restore the exiled government. |
| Iran denies backing the Houthis militarily. | Iran denies backing the Houthis militarily. |
| The UN says more than 3,200 people, half of them civilians, have been killed in air strikes and fighting on the ground in the past 15 weeks. | The UN says more than 3,200 people, half of them civilians, have been killed in air strikes and fighting on the ground in the past 15 weeks. |
| Another one million civilians have been displaced by the conflict and more than 80% of Yemen's 25 million people now need some form of humanitarian aid. | Another one million civilians have been displaced by the conflict and more than 80% of Yemen's 25 million people now need some form of humanitarian aid. |