Yemen loyalists retake southwestern town from rebels

Yemeni government forces have retaken a key southwestern crossroads town from Houthi rebels as they press an offensive up the Red Sea coast, military and medical sources said on Tuesday.

The retaking of the town of Hays in heavy fighting that was accompanied by intense Saudi-led air strikes follows on from the recapture in early December of Khokha on the coast to the west.

Medical sources in the rebel-held port of Hodeida some 150km to the north said that at least 30 rebel fighters were killed in the battle for the town and scores wounded.

A government source said eight soldiers were killed in the fighting on Monday.

Loyalist commander Abdulrahman Hajari said a number of rebels had been captured as his forces entered the town.

The retaking of Hays is a boost for government forces who have been hit by deadly infighting in their own ranks.

Late last month, southern separatist militiamen who are a key component of the forces loyal to President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi overran the main southern city of Aden and surrounded government ministers in the presidential palace.

The two main players in the coalition supporting Hadi - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - are still trying to broker a new political compromise.

The Southern Transitional Council have called for the creation of an independent South Yemen, which existed prior to Yemeni unification in 1990.