Southern forces recapture Aden from Yemen government
Battles rage for control over the southern city amid Saudi-UAE efforts to defuse tensions
Cairo: Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces on Thursday pushed back government forces in the southern city of Aden, a day after the government said it retook control of the port city.
The Security Belt Forces, aligned with the self-styled Southern Transitional Council (STC), said Thursday they are in full control of Aden's districts and securing the city's entrances, the Arabic service of Sky News reported.
The Security Belt forces are conducting mop-up operations in the city, the television added.
STC fighters allied with the Security Belt forces Thursday morning retook control of an outpost from government troops in the eastern section of Aden, online newspaper Adan Al Ghad reported, citing local witnesses.
The takeover followed clashes between both sides.
Earlier this month, STC forces overran Aden, the seat of the internationally recognised government, and other southern cities.
This week, the government said its forces had regained control of this territory. The fighting comes amid efforts by the UAE and Saudi Arabia to defuse tensions in the south to refocus fight on Yemen’s Iran-aligned Al Houthi militants.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are co-leading an Arab alliance fighting Al Houthis, who wrested control of the Yemeni capital in late 2014.