UAE 'defeats Saudi Arabia' as Emirati-backed separatists seize Yemen's Aden

Yemeni separatist forces backed by the UAE seized control of Aden only two days after the Southern Resistance Forces (SRF) reached the presidential palace, seat of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government.

The fighting between UAE-backed separatists and Saudi-backed government forces risks crippling an alliance against Houthi rebels in north Yemen.

The SRF has seized the last Aden stronghold of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi’s Presidential Protection Forces in the northern part of the city, following intense artillery and tank fire, according to agencies.

Separatists also took control of a key government military base after a UAE jet bombed the facility, a major gain for separatists since fighting broke out late last week.

“A plane from the Arab coalition, that said it hade come to support legitimacy bombed the base of the Fourth Brigade. What a farce,” tweeted Mukhtar al-Rahbi, a Yemeni official.

Circulated images on social media showed the former South Yemen flag flying over the base’s gate.

Hundreds of people reportedly sang and danced following the STC victory, with fireworks flying over Aden. Celebrators chanted slogans for the restoration of the South Yemeni state.

Negotiations are underway to allow Prime Minister
Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr to leave the city, but a government official said he had no plans to leave Aden.

President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi left Yemen for Riyadh after Houthis took control of Sanaa in 2015. His administration and its allies still control fourth-fifths of Yemen's territory.

Aidarus al-Zubaidi, the head of the STC, said his forces remained committed to driving the Houthis out of Sanaa.

“We have tasks alongside the Arab coalition and Operation Decisive Storm. But the people of the South have the right to their own state when the international community is ready for that,” Zubaidi told France 24.