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Anti-government militia captures airbase in Yemen Yemen president 'in safety' as rebels advance
(about 2 hours later)
Anti-government forces in Yemen have captured a major airbase near the southern refuge of the president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, days after US military personnel were evacuated, an army official has said. Yemen’s leader has been rushed to a secure location as rebel forces bore down on his southern stronghold following clashes that sparked warnings of civil war, according to a presidential aide.
The Houthis, a Shia militia, took control of al-Anad airbase after some clashes with forces loyal to Hadi, the official told AFP on Wednesday. The aide said President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi had been taken to a safe haven “within Aden” on Wednesday, denying that he had fled Yemen, a key ally in the US war on al-Qaida.
Yemen has allowed Washington to wage a long-standing drone war against al-Qaida militants in the impoverished state, which borders oil-rich Saudi Arabia. Earlier, a source in the presidential guard said that the western-backed leader had flown out of the country.
US military personnel stationed at al-Anad were evacuated on Friday over security concerns. Hadi “boarded a helicopter from al-Maasheeq palace to an unknown destination abroad,” the source said, before the aide insisted the president was still in the port city.
Yemen has acknowledged that American personnel at the base were gathering intelligence for drone strikes before they pulled out. Aden residents were taking up arms at a weapons depot in preparation for a potential advance on the city by anti-government forces, a military source said.
After seizing al-Anad, anti-Hadi forces advanced further south and were just under two miles (3km) from al-Houta, the capital of Lahj province, the military official said. The Houthi Shia militia and their allies have seized large parts of Yemen and in recent days have been advancing on Aden, where Hadi fled after escaping house arrest in the capital Sanaa last month.
The Houthis, backed by troops allied to former strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh, have clashed with Hadi’s forces in at least two southern provinces as they push towards Aden. The country on the Arabian peninsula has been gripped by growing turmoil since the Houthis launched a power takeover in Sanaa in February.
The UN envoy, Jamal Benomar, warned on Sunday that Yemen was sliding towards a “civil war”.
Hadi appealed to the UN Security Council on Tuesday to “shoulder its responsibilities ... to safeguard Yemen from sliding into more chaos and destruction.”
Rebel forces seized a key airbase just 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Aden on Wednesday, days after US military personnel were evacuated from the site.
The Houthis took control of Al-Anad airbase following “limited clashes” with forces loyal to Hadi, an official told AFP.
US military personnel stationed at Al-Anad were pulled out on Friday because of security concerns.
After seizing Al-Anad, anti-Hadi forces advanced further south and were nearly two miles away from Huta, the capital of Lahj province, which is adjacent to Aden, the military official said.
The Houthi militia, backed by troops allied to Yemen’s former strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh, have clashed with pro-Hadi forces as they push towards Aden, leaving dozens dead.
Saleh, who resigned in 2012 following nationwide protests, has been accused of backing the Shia militia as he seeks to regain influence.Saleh, who resigned in 2012 following nationwide protests, has been accused of backing the Shia militia as he seeks to regain influence.
On Sunday, the Houthis seized the airport and a military base in Taez, 110 miles (180km) north of Aden, which is seen as a strategic entry point to Hadi’s southern stronghold.
Yemen is increasingly divided between a north controlled by the Houthis, allegedly backed by Iran, and a south dominated by Hadi supporters.Yemen is increasingly divided between a north controlled by the Houthis, allegedly backed by Iran, and a south dominated by Hadi supporters.
The UN security council, western countries and Gulf Arab monarchies have backed Hadi as the country’s legitimate ruler.The UN security council, western countries and Gulf Arab monarchies have backed Hadi as the country’s legitimate ruler.
On Tuesday, Hadi called for the security council to pass a binding resolution asking countries to provide immediate support “by all means and measures to protect Yemen and deter the Houthi aggression expected to occur at any hour from now” in several strategic cities, including Aden. In a letter to the council on Tuesday, Hadi called for a binding UN resolution asking countries to provide immediate support “by all means and measures to protect Yemen and deter the Houthi aggression expected to occur at any hour from now” in several strategic cities, including Aden.
He voiced concerns that al-Qaida would “seize the current instability to spark further chaos”.
He referred to an unspecified “missile capability looted from the legitimate authority”, and asked the security council to take control of the missiles.
The council has so far only released a declaration of support for Hadi, during an emergency meeting the president requested on Sunday.
Diplomats on the council said no new meeting had been planned.
Hadi said he had asked Gulf Cooperation Council members and other countries that belong to the Arab League to provide immediate support, including military intervention to help battle the Houthi militia.
The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, warned on Monday that Arab countries might take action “to protect interests from Houthi aggression”.
The turmoil has raised fears that extremists will exploit the security vacuum in a country already home to what Washington considers al-Qaida’s deadliest offshoot.