Yemen President returns to Aden to oversee Taiz 'liberation'

Two months after a previous failed attempt, Yemeni President Hadi has now returned to Aden to oversee a major offensive to retake the strategic province of Taiz from Houthi rebels.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

17 November, 2015

President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi (C) returned to Aden from exile in Saudi Arabia [AFP]

Yemen's president returned to Aden on Tuesday from exile in Saudi Arabia, a day after a military offensive was launched against the Houthi rebels, a presidential source said.

After landing in the provisional capital, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi went straight to the palace to "supervise" the offensive, which is aimed at retaking rebel-controlled Taiz province.

His return comes just days after his prime minister, Khaled Bahah, announced the government's return to the war-torn country.

The president has tried to return before.

In September, after six months exile in Saudi Arabia, Hadi and Bahah returned to Aden but had to go back to Riyadh after a deadly attack on the provisional seat of government in a hotel.

Saudi Arabia has since late March led an Arab coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen, in support of Hadi's internationally recognised government.

The UN says that some 5,000 people, more than half of them civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led intervention began.