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Yemeni city Taiz 'seized by Shia rebels' | Yemeni city Taiz 'seized by Shia rebels' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Parts of Yemen's third largest city Taiz have been seized by Shia rebels, reports quoting security officials say. | Parts of Yemen's third largest city Taiz have been seized by Shia rebels, reports quoting security officials say. |
The city's airport was among the areas taken by Houthi insurgents. | |
There has been mounting violence by rival armed groups in Yemen, including the Houthis, al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants. | |
President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi was overthrown by Houthis in February and fled from the capital, Sanaa, to the southern city of Aden. | |
On Saturday, the US said it was withdrawing its troops from the country due to the worsening security situation. | On Saturday, the US said it was withdrawing its troops from the country due to the worsening security situation. |
Patrols | |
Houthi fighters dressed in military uniform could be seen arriving at the airport in Taiz and patrolling parts of the city, eyewitnesses said. | |
Dozens of tanks and military vehicles were reported to be heading from north Yemen towards Taiz, which lies between Sanaa and Aden. | |
Some local residents took to the streets to protest against the Houthi presence, prompting rebels to fire into the air to disperse them. | |
The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen's security situation on Sunday. | The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen's security situation on Sunday. |
The rebels declared a new government in February and said a transitional five-member presidential council would replace President Hadi. | The rebels declared a new government in February and said a transitional five-member presidential council would replace President Hadi. |
However, the Houthis are minority Shia from the north, and their declaration has not been recognised by Sunni and southern leaders. | However, the Houthis are minority Shia from the north, and their declaration has not been recognised by Sunni and southern leaders. |
Mr Hadi called on Friday for the rebels to withdraw from Sanaa, but the Houthis appealed for a general mobilisation against the president's forces. | |
Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a powerful offshoot of the jihadist group. | Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a powerful offshoot of the jihadist group. |
However, IS is also gaining ground after setting up a base there in November and said it was behind suicide bombings of two Houthi mosques on Friday in Sanaa, which killed 137 worshippers. | |
Both al-Qaeda and IS are Sunni groups and consider the Shia Muslim Houthis to be heretics. | Both al-Qaeda and IS are Sunni groups and consider the Shia Muslim Houthis to be heretics. |
Are you in Yemen? Have you witnessed events? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Yemen? Have you witnessed events? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
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