Aden: Yemeni rebels seized President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi’s palace in his former southern stronghold Aden and Al Qaeda militants freed hundreds of inmates in a jailbreak yesterday despite a week of Saudi-led air strikes.
The advance by Iran-backed rebels deep into Aden, the last bastion of Hadi supporters, appeared to further douse prospects of his returning any time soon from Saudi Arabia.
“Dozens of Houthi militia and their allies arrived in armoured troop carriers and entered Al Maashiq palace,” said a senior security official.
Heavy clashes erupted between the rebels and their opponents inside the compound, a cluster of buildings on a hilltop accessible by only one winding road.
At least 44 people were reported dead.
A defence ministry official said the palace was now controlled by forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, which have allied with the Houthis.
But Brigadier General Ahmed Assiri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the situation was stable.
“Houthis are not in control of any government buildings in Aden.”
In the city of Mukalla, Al Qaeda rebels stormed a Hadramawt provincial prison and freed over 300 inmates, including one of their leaders.
Saudi Arabia announced its first casualties, with one soldier killed and 10 wounded by gunfire from across the Yemeni border. Agencies
