Exiled president says Aden 'key to Yemen salvation'

By Fawaz al-Haidari

Yemen's exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi on Thursday paid tribute to loyalist forces as they pushed an offensive against rebels in the country's second city of Aden.

"Aden will be the key to Yemen's salvation," Hadi said in a televised address marking the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

"From Aden we will regain (control) of all of Yemen," said Hadi, praising the "resistance" of pro-government forces who are battling to oust the Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies from the southern city.

The rebels entered Aden in March, after seizing control of the capital Sanaa, forcing Hadi and his government into exile in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday loyalist forces launched Operation Golden Arrow, one of their biggest counter-offensives so far.

Since then they have recaptured Aden airport and much of the surrounding Khormaksar diplomatic district, as well as the provincial government headquarters.

The southern militiamen of the Popular Resistance, backed by reinforcements freshly trained and equipped in Saudi Arabia, have also gained ground in Mualla.

On Thursday they also recaptured the rebel-held district of Crater near the presidential palace in Aden, loyalist General Abdullah al-Subeih said, in an operation during which 71 rebels surrendered.

The Saudi-led coalition, which has been waging air strikes against the insurgents since March, provided air cover.

Officials said the pro-government fighters used loudspeakers to offer rebels in the districts of Crater, Mualla and Khormaksar safe passage out of the city if they lay down their arms.

The rebels tried to bring in reinforcements from the central province of Baida overnight but were bombed by coalition warplanes.

The coalition also hit rebel positions on Aden's northern and eastern outskirts and in other districts of the city, military sources and witnesses said.

The retreating rebels again pounded Aden oil refinery with Katyusha multiple rocket launchers, sparking a new blaze at the facility, which has 1.2 million tonnes of crude in storage, an oil official said.

Thick smoke formed over the refinery - Yemen's largest - and residents of nearby areas were evacuated, witnesses said.