By Fouad Mussad
ADEN (AA): Yemen’s southern separatists, who are supported by the UAE, have reportedly captured the seat of the government in the coastal city of Aden after clashes with government forces amid reports of casualties. Twenty people have been killed and dozens injured.
Forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), who are the allies of Saudi-led coalition, seized the government headquarters, which is supported by Saudi-led coalition, in Aden on Sunday after deadly clashes with presidential guards, STC military sources said.
UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition which came to support President Hadi against Ansar Allah [Houthi] group. UAE is fighting against the internationally recognised Govt of Hadi who is living in exile in Saudi Arabia.
STC forces also broke into the camp of the 3rd Brigade of the Presidential Guards in the city, the sources added on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.
Pro-government military sources, however, said the camp was still controlled by the 3rd Brigade.
Medical sources said around 20 people have been killed and injured in ongoing clashes between the two sides.
Tension has been running high in Aden since the STC called for sacking the government of Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr.
The STC accuses the government of starving Yemenis and pushing the country to the verge of famine.
Yemen has been dogged by chaos since 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa, forcing the Saudi-backed government to set up an interim capital Aden.
One year later, Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies — who accuse the Houthis of serving as an Iranian proxy — launched a massive military campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back the Houthis’ territorial gains.
[Photo: A man walks with a boy through Al-Milh market in Houthi controlledSana’a, Yemen on January 19, 2018. Photographer: Mohammed Hamoud/AA]