Fighting in Yemen’s southern port city of Aden intensifies
9 April 2015 5:57 AM IST
A number of military officials confirmed to Xinhua news agency that the Houthi gunmen supported by some troops stepped up their offensive against pro-Hadi forces in several districts of Aden province and deployed heavy armoured vehicles everywhere in the city. The fierce street fighting has reached a critical stage in Aden city, where heavy shelling targeted residential buildings on Wednesday afternoon, killing at least eight civilians and injuring dozens others.
Aden’s deputy governor confirmed to Xinhua during an exclusive interview that the random shelling also damaged several electricity substations, water tanks and destroyed about seven private houses in Cirater district in Wednesday’s fighting.
The pro-Hadi side lost five people with 15 others being wounded, destroyed three tanks and seized some small weapons from the Houthi gunmen in Aden.
Sources close to Houthis claimed earlier that they managed to occupy a number of strategic hills in Aden province in their offensive over the last week against pro-Hadi tribal militia with heavy weapons, deploying well-trained snipers on the hills in order to help their forces on ground.
Due to the occupation of these hills overlooking Aden’s main port located in Mu’alla district, the Houthi gunmen could reopen blocked roads and support their forces to impose full control over key government facilities there and secure roads to bring more reinforcements, according to the sources.
Iran FM in Pak to discuss conflict
Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif on Wednesday arrived in Pakistan to exchange views on the situation in Yemen, a day after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called on Iran to get involved in a debate on security in the war-torn country. The visit is taking place when Pakistan’s parliament is mulling a request by Saudi Arabia to provide troops, jets and warships to join its coalition fighting in Yemen against Shia Houthi rebels, allegedly supported by Iran. An official of the foreign office said that Zarif was having a meeting with Pakistan’s advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz.
Aden’s deputy governor confirmed to Xinhua during an exclusive interview that the random shelling also damaged several electricity substations, water tanks and destroyed about seven private houses in Cirater district in Wednesday’s fighting.
The pro-Hadi side lost five people with 15 others being wounded, destroyed three tanks and seized some small weapons from the Houthi gunmen in Aden.
Sources close to Houthis claimed earlier that they managed to occupy a number of strategic hills in Aden province in their offensive over the last week against pro-Hadi tribal militia with heavy weapons, deploying well-trained snipers on the hills in order to help their forces on ground.
Due to the occupation of these hills overlooking Aden’s main port located in Mu’alla district, the Houthi gunmen could reopen blocked roads and support their forces to impose full control over key government facilities there and secure roads to bring more reinforcements, according to the sources.
Iran FM in Pak to discuss conflict
Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif on Wednesday arrived in Pakistan to exchange views on the situation in Yemen, a day after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called on Iran to get involved in a debate on security in the war-torn country. The visit is taking place when Pakistan’s parliament is mulling a request by Saudi Arabia to provide troops, jets and warships to join its coalition fighting in Yemen against Shia Houthi rebels, allegedly supported by Iran. An official of the foreign office said that Zarif was having a meeting with Pakistan’s advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz.
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