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              Pro-Government Yemeni Militias Repel Houthis in Aden

   by Edward Yeranian

   Backed by the Saudi-led coalition, pro-government militiamen in
   southern Yemen have made major gains in the strategic port city of Aden
   in the past 24 hours. The Saudi-led coalition is calling the battle to
   retake Aden "Operation Golden Arrow."

   Armed with heavy weapons and armed vehicles, southern militiamen traded
   fire with Houthi rebel fighters in several districts of the strategic
   port city of Aden.

   Witnesses said Houthi fighters have been driven out of key parts of the
   city, including the port, international airport and a number of
   government buildings.

   A southern commander told Arab media the Houthis were pushed back on
   two fronts in the north of Aden and to the east of the city. He
   indicated fighting was continuing in the southern-most Crater district.

   Amateur video showed southern militiamen in control of Aden's
   international airport after they captured the facility Tuesday from the
   Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdallah Saleh.

   ''Other video showed black smoke pouring from Aden's refinery after the
   Houthis allegedly fired on oil storage tanks, setting them ablaze.

   Residents of several southern Yemeni cities shot fireworks into the air
   overnight to celebrate the retreat of Houthi militiamen. Amateur video
   also showed some rejoicing residents of Aden honking their car horns.

   Elsewhere, the Houthi's al Masira TV claimed the Saudi-led coalition
   launched five airstrikes overnight on the international airport in the
   Yemeni capital Sanaa.  Saudi-owned al Arabiya TV claimed the Houthis,
   who control Sanaa, have put their forces in the city on alert.

   The Houthis were also reportedly pushed out of several districts in
   Yemen's third largest city of Taiz. Witnesses said Houthi forces
   shelled their opponents, while Saudi coalition planes struck Houthi
   targets from the air.

   A Houthi supporter claimed a Saudi airstrike inside the city killed a
   number of people in a jeep. Pro-Houthi media showed video of dead
   bodies next to a vehicle that appeared to have been struck by a
   missile.

   In the north of the country, Houthi forces claimed to have fired
   rockets over the border into Saudi territory, striking targets in the
   city of Jizan. The Houthi's al Masira TV claimed several targets,
   including a cement factory and a bridge,  were hit.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/pro-government-yemeni-militias-push-b
   ack-houthis-aden/2862936.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/pro-government-yemeni-militias-push-back-houthis-aden/2862936.html