UAE says 3 soldiers killed in Yemen campaign

In conflicting reports, officials in Yemen’s government claim that Egypt has sent ground troops to fight alongside government forces, while independent journalists and analysts say that there are no Egyptian soldiers present.

Airport chief Tarek Abdu Ali said Thursday’s flight would be followed by daily flights to Aden. It was the first commercial use of Aden’s airport since Saudi-led airstrikes began in late March, targeting the rebels and their allies.

The Iran-backed rebels fled after forces loyal to exiled president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi retook large parts of the southern province.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition struck Houthi forces and weapons in a number of Yemeni cities on Friday including Hodeida where more than a dozen of the Houthis were killed.

The Arab coalition has enforced a near-blockade on the country to prevent arms shipments, but had for almost four months allowed trade and aid vessels to dock at Houthi-controlled ports to relieve hungry and impoverished Yemenis in the north. They will be exchanged for seven Al Houthi military commanders held in Aden.

The Houthis and members of the party of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh party will meet with United Nations envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Oman, officials from the exiled Riyadh-based Yemeni presidential office said. The organization says that 1.3 million Yemenis have been displaced by the conflict.

Gargash said that the coalition is successfully implementing its plans for Yemen, despite comments to the contrary from external observers. “Moreover, deliveries of food, water and medicine must be facilitated not hampered”, he said.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said no ransom was paid for Ms Prime’s release.

Saudi Arabia has warned its citizens against marrying “unidentified” women from areas along the border with Yemen, adding that those who marry foreigners without permission will be punished.

The sanctions freeze any assets, bank accounts and safe deposit boxes the five might have in Turkey and will be in place until February 26, 2016, Anatolia said.

He was accused of aiding the Houthi to undermine the government of internationally recognised president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi in February.