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| Yemen crisis: Houthi rebels 'driven from key al-Anad airbase' | Yemen crisis: Houthi rebels 'driven from key al-Anad airbase' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pro-government forces in Yemen have retaken the country's largest airbase in a battle with Houthi rebels, a spokesman for the forces told the BBC. | Pro-government forces in Yemen have retaken the country's largest airbase in a battle with Houthi rebels, a spokesman for the forces told the BBC. |
| Heavy casualties have been reported at al-Anad airbase, north of Aden, after intense fighting there in recent days. | Heavy casualties have been reported at al-Anad airbase, north of Aden, after intense fighting there in recent days. |
| It comes after pro-government forces, backed by air strikes from a Saudi-led coalition, retook Aden in July. | It comes after pro-government forces, backed by air strikes from a Saudi-led coalition, retook Aden in July. |
| The Saudis are leading a campaign to push the rebels back and restore the government, which it is sheltering. | The Saudis are leading a campaign to push the rebels back and restore the government, which it is sheltering. |
| Al-Anad used to be a base for US troops overseeing drone attacks on al-Qaeda. | Al-Anad used to be a base for US troops overseeing drone attacks on al-Qaeda. |
| It was overrun by Houthi rebels as they advanced south in March, forcing President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee. | It was overrun by Houthi rebels as they advanced south in March, forcing President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee. |
| Air cover | |
| "The al-Anad airbase is now back in the hands of President Hadi's men," Nasr Alkaid, a spokesman for the pro-government forces, told the BBC. | "The al-Anad airbase is now back in the hands of President Hadi's men," Nasr Alkaid, a spokesman for the pro-government forces, told the BBC. |
| He said the loyalists were still battling rebels about 4km (2.5 miles) from the base. | He said the loyalists were still battling rebels about 4km (2.5 miles) from the base. |
| There has been no comment from the Houthis on the latest claims that the base has fallen. | |
| If confirmed, the recapture of the airbase could remove a major obstacle for government forces on the road to Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, where pro-Hadi militia have been clashing with rebels. | |
| Pro-government troops have been helped by air cover and weapons provided by the Saudi-led coalition. | Pro-government troops have been helped by air cover and weapons provided by the Saudi-led coalition. |
| Sunni power Saudi Arabia regards the Houthis as proxies of Shia rival Iran. It alleges Iran has provided the Houthis with weapons, something Iran and the Houthis deny. | Sunni power Saudi Arabia regards the Houthis as proxies of Shia rival Iran. It alleges Iran has provided the Houthis with weapons, something Iran and the Houthis deny. |
| The rebels - backed by forces loyal to the former President, Ali Abdullah Saleh - say they are fighting against corruption and marginalisation of their northern powerbase by Mr Hadi's government. | The rebels - backed by forces loyal to the former President, Ali Abdullah Saleh - say they are fighting against corruption and marginalisation of their northern powerbase by Mr Hadi's government. |
| Why is there fighting in Yemen? | |
| Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom? |