Coalition-backed Yemeni forces launch Taiz offensive

Yemen’s president returned to Aden on Tuesday from exile in Saudi Arabia, a day after a military offensive was launched against Iran-backed rebels, a presidential source said, as cited by AFP.

 Days before Mr. Hadi’s renewed return, his Prime Minister and Vice-President Khaled Bahah announced the return of his government to Aden, which had been declared the provisional capital of Yemen after the Houthis seized Sanaa.

On Sunday night, Saudi-led coalition warplanes also struck Houthi positions in the Al-Sallal foothills in eastern Taiz and the Al-Rahidh and Al-Misrakh directorates in the province’s south.

The following month, he fled into exile as the rebels and their allies entered Aden, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to launch a military intervention in support of his internationally recognised government.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition in March began carrying out air strikes against military bases and arms depots of the Shiite Houthi gunmen, and later sent in thousands of ground troops from UAE, Qatar and different nationalities to back pro-Hadi forces.

He warned that it would take a few time to fully dislodge the rebels from the city because they had planted landmines across the areas they controlled.

Further south, pro-Hadi fighters advanced towards Rahida, the province’s second-largest city, following fierce clashes at nearby Shuraija, a military source said.

The State Department said on Monday that the package included several laser-guided bombs and other models. “They are 30 kilometres (19 miles) away from Mocha”, he said. Hadi again left after renewed rebel attacks, but members of his government have since operated out of the city.

Sudanese forces from the strategic Al-Anad airbase in Lahj are taking part in the Taez operations, according to the sources.

UN-brokered peace talks on the Yemen crisis are planned for later this month.