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Yemen’s embattled president flees stronghold as Shiite rebels advance Yemen’s embattled president flees stronghold as Shiite rebels advance
(about 3 hours later)
SANAA, Yemen — Shiite rebels believed backed by Iran intensified their siege on Yemen’s second-largest city Wednesday, overrunning two key airfields and forcing the president to flee an onslaught that threatened the last remnants of the country’s Western-allied leadership. SANAA, Yemen — Shiite rebels believed backed by Iran swept toward Yemen’s second-largest city Wednesday, overrunning two key airfields and forcing the president to flee in an onslaught that threatened the last remnants of the country’s Western-allied leadership.
Some parts of Aden remained held by forces loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who abandoned his last-ditch refuge in the seaside city. But the troops appeared initially overwhelmed by rebel blitz, suggesting the insurgents were consolidating control of their latest major battlefield prizes, witnesses said. Some parts of Aden remained held by forces loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who abandoned his refuge in the seaside city. But the troops appeared initially overwhelmed by the rebel blitz, suggesting the insurgents were close to taking control of their latest major battlefield prize, witnesses said.
The fall of Aden to the rebels, known as Houthis, would give the insurgents control of both the capital, Sanaa, and the country’s main sea gateway.The fall of Aden to the rebels, known as Houthis, would give the insurgents control of both the capital, Sanaa, and the country’s main sea gateway.
It also could mark the end of Hadi’s bid to cling to power, and the beginning of a fiefdom-versus-fiefdom civil war in a country once hailed as a critical front in the U.S.-led war against al-Qaeda. It could mark the end of Hadi’s bid to stay in power, and the beginning of a fiefdom-versus-fiefdom civil war in a country that has been a critical front in the U.S.-led war against al-Qaeda. While the Houthis appeared on the verge of taking Aden, it was not clear they would be able to consolidate their control in the south, where they are unpopular.
Yemen’s branch of al-Qaeda holds patches of the country and views the Houthis as foes in the competition for influence and Yemen’s modest oil wealth.Yemen’s branch of al-Qaeda holds patches of the country and views the Houthis as foes in the competition for influence and Yemen’s modest oil wealth.
[Who are the Houthis?][Who are the Houthis?]
On a broader level, Yemen represents a potential proxy battlefield for the wider regional rivalries between Shiite power Iran and the Gulf Arab states backed by Washington, which had counted on Hadi as a partner in coordinating drone strikes against al-Qaeda. On a broader level, Yemen represents a potential proxy battlefield for Shiite power Iran and the Sunni Gulf Arab states allied with Washington, which had counted on Hadi as a partner in coordinating drone strikes against al-Qaeda.
Amid the widening chaos, Hadi’s whereabouts remained unclear.Amid the widening chaos, Hadi’s whereabouts remained unclear.
Senior security officials told The Washington Post that Hadi had left his stronghold in Aden, where his government sought a foothold after being driven from the capital, Sanaa, by the Houthis.Senior security officials told The Washington Post that Hadi had left his stronghold in Aden, where his government sought a foothold after being driven from the capital, Sanaa, by the Houthis.
Looters soon swarmed the presidential buildings, and fighting flared on several fronts on the edge of the city, said Anis Mansour, editor of the port city’s Huna Aden newspaper. Looters swarmed the presidential buildings in Aden, and fighting flared on several fronts on the edge of the city, said Anis Mansour, editor of the port city’s Huna Aden newspaper.
“What is happening in Aden is an invasion,” said Mansour.“What is happening in Aden is an invasion,” said Mansour.
Yemen’s foreign minister, Riyadh Yaseen, told Al Jazeera from Egypt that Hadi was in a “secure” place in Aden. Later, however, officials told the Associated Press that Hadi and top aides had escaped by sea on two boats. Yemen’s foreign minister, Riyadh Yaseen, told Al Jazeera from Egypt that Hadi was in a “secure” place in Aden. Later, however, officials told the Associated Press that Hadi and top aides had escaped on two boats.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists. But a senior member of the Houthi political committee, Dhaif Allah Alshami, denied that Hadi had slipped away by sea and said rebels were seeking him in the city.
But a senior member of the Houthi political committee, Dhaif Allah Alshami, dismissed the reports that Hadi managed to slip away by sea and said rebels were seeking him in the city. Alshami claimed the insurgents had taken over the compound where Hadi maintained his government after being driven from Sanaa. The deputy editor of the Almasdar news agency, Ali Alfaqeeh, said the site has come under shelling and there were no sign of Hadi’s forces mounting a counteroffensive.
Alshami claimed the rebels had taken over the presidential compound, where Hadi maintained his government after being driven from Sanaa. The deputy editor of the Almasdar news agency, Ali Alfaqeeh, said the site has come under shelling and there were no sign of Hadi’s forces mounting a counteroffensive. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest strongly condemned the Houthi offensive, and accused former president Ali Abdullah Saleh of working with the rebels “to foment a lot of instability in the country.”
In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he could not confirm Hadi’s location. “And so, we would call on them to stop that instability and that violence,” he said. Saleh was driven from power by Arab Spring-inspired uprisings in 2012, but has remained an important power broker in Yemen. Earnest said that the Obama administration still recognized Hadi as president.
“We would call on [the rebels] to stop that instability and that violence and cooperate with this UN-led process to resolve the difference among all the sides,” Earnest told reporters. He added that “there are elements of the Yemeni government that we continue to be in touch with” on counter-terrorism operations aimed at the country’s al-Qaeda affiliate, but he did not provide details. He said he could not confirm Hadi’s location.
An Aden shopkeeper, Abduljabar Mohammed, said the streets emptied as the rebel attacks intensified. Neighboring Saudi Arabia has massed troops and dispatched tanks to its border with Yemen, a sign of its intense unease at the idea of Iranian-backed rebels taking control of a country that had been its close ally.
Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels near the countries’ border in 2009, after protesting that its border guards were fired on.
But any ground intervention would require a long and difficult trip through the heart of Houthi-held territory to reach Aden. And it appeared unlikely that Saudi troops could roll back Houthi control of large parts of Yemen.
The Reuters news agency quoted a Saudi official saying the frontier deployment was “only to defend the country” and not a prelude to a push into Yemen.
Hadi’s government has appealed for military intervention from the Gulf’s military alliance, which is anchored by neighboring Saudi Arabia, and has called on the United Nations to authorize foreign armed forces to enter Yemen.
But Gulf states have given no signals of plans for an immediate mobilization to aid Hadi, and the last units of U.S. and British commandos have been pulled from Yemen amid the widening instability.
In Aden, shopkeeper Abduljabar Mohammed said the streets emptied as the rebel attacks intensified.
“I have been hiding in my shop,” he said by telephone. “The people are afraid and worried for their safety. We don’t know what to expect.”“I have been hiding in my shop,” he said by telephone. “The people are afraid and worried for their safety. We don’t know what to expect.”
Neighboring Saudi Arabia — which has massed troops on its border with Yemen — offered haven to Hadi’s predecessor, Ali Abdullah Saleh, after he was driven from power by Arab Spring-inspired uprisings in 2012. Houthi-controlled state television said a nearly $100,000 bounty was being offered for the president’s capture.
Houthi-controlled state television said a nearly $100,000 bounty was offered for the president’s capture.
Some members of Hadi’s inner circle, meanwhile, appeared to run out of room. Rebels said they had captured the country’s defense minister and a top aide near Aden.Some members of Hadi’s inner circle, meanwhile, appeared to run out of room. Rebels said they had captured the country’s defense minister and a top aide near Aden.
[ Yemen’s collapse also sinks U.S. counterterrorism strategy][ Yemen’s collapse also sinks U.S. counterterrorism strategy]
Security officials told the Post that Hadi fled his compound just hours after the rebels announced they had taken the important al-Anad air base, located less than 20 miles from Aden. The airfield was once a main link in the U.S.-directed drone missions against al-Qaeda.Security officials told the Post that Hadi fled his compound just hours after the rebels announced they had taken the important al-Anad air base, located less than 20 miles from Aden. The airfield was once a main link in the U.S.-directed drone missions against al-Qaeda.
Later, the rebels reported taking control of Aden’s civilian airport.Later, the rebels reported taking control of Aden’s civilian airport.
Hadi’s government has appealed for military intervention from the gulf’s military alliance, which is anchored by neighboring Saudi Arabia, and has called on the United Nations to authorize foreign armed forces to enter Yemen.
But gulf states have given no signals of plans for an immediate mobilization to aid Hadi, and the last units of U.S. and British commandos have been pulled from Yemen amid the widening instability.
Saudi Arabia reinforced troops and tanks on its southern border with Yemen. Yet any ground intervention would require a long and difficult trip through the heart of Houthi-held territory to reach Aden.
The Reuters news agency, meanwhile, quoted a Saudi official saying the frontier deployment was “only to defend the country” and not a prelude to a push into Yemen.
The unraveling of Hadi’s power over the past months has dealt a significant blow to U.S.-led efforts to wage drone attacks and other pinpoint strikes against suspected strongholds of the Yemen-based branch of al-Qaeda, which is considered among the terror group’s most active networks.The unraveling of Hadi’s power over the past months has dealt a significant blow to U.S.-led efforts to wage drone attacks and other pinpoint strikes against suspected strongholds of the Yemen-based branch of al-Qaeda, which is considered among the terror group’s most active networks.
Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels — seen as foes of al-Qaeda — have claimed increasing territory since taking control of the capital in January.Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels — seen as foes of al-Qaeda — have claimed increasing territory since taking control of the capital in January.
Last week, suicide bombers killed at least 137 people at two Shiite mosques in Sanaa linked to the Houthi rebels.Last week, suicide bombers killed at least 137 people at two Shiite mosques in Sanaa linked to the Houthi rebels.
Murphy reported from Washington. Murphy reported from Washington. Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.
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